Birding Trips
Birding trips are organized from October through April.
Detailed directions to most of the birding sites are found here. Specific information will be provided in emails to the Google Group.
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Non-members are welcome to join us on birding trips.
You will be required to sign a Waiver before participating.
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For reports of previous trips, look here.
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Upcoming Birding Trips
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Downloadable and Printable Calendar
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February 2025
February 6 (Thursday) Field Trip: Scrub Jay Trail, Ocala National Forest. Meet 8:30 AM at Sunnyhill Restoration Area, 19561 SE Hwy 42, Umatilla. We will then carpool and drive through a 12-mile-long dirt road stopping to enjoy Florida Scrub Jays. Leaders Tammy Martin and Susan Pepper.
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February 12 (Wednesday) All Day Field Trip: De Leon Springs State Park -- Pontoon Boat Ride (~50 minutes). 601 Ponce Deleon Blvd, De Leon Springs. Reservations and prepayment required. Leaders: Linda and Jerry Bell. Followed by lunch at Old Sugar Mill. Stopping at Lake Woodruff NWA, 2045 Mud Lake Rd, De Leon Springs on way back to The Villages.
February 15 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Speaker: Mark Cudney: Birding Alaska.
February 20 (Thursday) Field Trip: : Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area Public Boat Ramp, located off Emeralda Island Rd, Leesburg. Directions. Leader: Alice Horst. Meet 8 AM just past venue entrance. No restrooms. Walking on gravel road. Optional lunch to follow at Gator Bay Bar & Grill, 10320 CR 44, Leesburg approx. 1.5 miles away. (352) 365-2177.
February 26 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park—La Chua Trail, 4801 Camp Ranch Rd, Gainesville. Directions. Leader: Tammy Martin. Meet 8 AM in venue parking lot. Park entrance fee $6.00 per vehicle or a Florida State Park pass. Porta Potty only. Walking on multiple surfaces – pavement, boardwalk and mowed grass.
February 28 and March 1 (Friday and Saturday) The Villages Outdoor Expo: Everglades Regional Rec Center, 5497 Marsh Bend Trail, Wildwood. Coordinator: Susan Pepper.
March 2025
March 6 (Thursday) Field Trip: Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland. Leader: Jan Mercer. Meet 8 AM in venue parking lot. Restroom.
March 12 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Pine Meadows Conservation Area, 2280 Pine Meadows Golf Course Rd, Eustis, Lake County. Leader: Susan Pepper. Meet 8:30 AM in the large venue parking/picnic area located at the end of the entrance road, past the boat ramp. Facility Port-A-Let only.
March 15 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Speaker: Pete Helmuth, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in the Withlacoochee State Forest.
March 19 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area (pronounced "Chin-SEE-gut"), 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville. Leader: Susan Pepper. Meet 8:20 AM at venue. Trip starts at 8:30 a.m. with brief introduction by FWC about the area. Restroom.
March 26 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Half Moon Wildlife Management Area, 8640 Sumter County Rd 247, Lake Panasoffkee. Leader: Liz Stackenborg. Meet 8 AM in parking lot at WMA Entrance Gate. Car pool for a drive through the area. Restroom.
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April 2025
April 1 (Tuesday) All Day Field Trip: Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Key. Leader: Beth Sharlow. Meetup in The Villages to carpool. Drive to multiple birding locations in and around Cedar Key throughout the day. Eating lunch in downtown Cedar Key. Details TBA.
April 9 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, 7200 Battlefield Parkway, Bushnell. Leader: Susan Pepper. Meet 8:30 AM at venue in the parking lot off to the right after park entrance. Entrance fee $3.00 per vehicle or a Florida State Park pass. Restroom.
April 12 (Saturday) Annual Member Only Picnic: Lake Griffin State Park, 3089 US-441, Fruitland Park. Coordinator: Barb Peterson. Meet 9:45 AM at venue for a bird walk followed at 11:00 AM with lunch. Entrance fee $6.00 per vehicle or a Florida State Park pass. Restroom. Details TBA.
April 16 and 17 (Wednesday and Thursday) Overnight Field Trip: Fort De Soto County Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde. Leader: Mark Cudney & Alice Horst. On Wednesday, meet 8:30 AM at the park headquarters, located at the intersection of Pinellas Bayway and Anderson Blvd (huge U.S. flag pole). Entrance fee $5 paid at park kiosks, credit cards only, license plate number required. Details TBA.
April 19 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake
Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Program: Birding 101 followed with Binocular & Spotting Scope demos on the boardwalk behind the Rec Center.
April 24 (Thursday) Field Trip: Moss Bluff North Park, 16298 SE 95th Street Rd, Ocklawaha. Leader: Bob Smidt. Meet 8:00 AM at North Park. From SE Hwy 464C go past Dam Diner, across bridge over Ocklawaha River, turn right on first road. Park entrance fee $5. Restroom. Go to Moss Bluff South Park. Optional lunch at Duck's Dam Diner.
May 2025 – no events
June 2025
June 1 through 30 (All Month Long) is the June Challenge. Coordinator: Alice Horst. Details TBA.
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