Florida CBC Bonus Trip April 21

South Florida is the only truly tropical region in the entire mainland United States. It has mangroves, manatees, bromeliads, and crocodiles. But most of all it has birds, many of them found nowhere else in the country.

North of Fort Lauderdale we'll see breeding Least Bittern, Limpkin, Purple Gallinule and more at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Near Miami we'll look for Red-whiskered Bulbul, Monk Parakeet, and Spot-breasted Oriole. The agricultural lands and swamps around Lake Okeechobee are great for Sandhill Crane, Crested Caracara, Short-tailed Hawk, and Florida Scrub-Jay. South of Naples, we'll look for Burrowing Owl, Mangrove Cuckoo, Reddish Egret and Snowy Plover on the Gulf Coast. The Everglades are famous for the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, Roseate Spoonbill, Snail Kite, Gray Kingbird, and White-crowned Pigeon. We may even see Greater Flamingo and Shiny Cowbird. Our last major destination is the Florida Keys to look for Magnificent Frigatebird, Black-whiskered Vireo and Antillean Nighthawk. We'll also search for Common Ground-Dove, Painted Bunting, and a host of migrant warblers. Our day on Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas will be nothing short of spectacular, from the Sooty Tern and Brown Noddy breeding colony, to the host of migrant warblers, buntings, and other songbirds. And a West Indian vagrant, perhaps a Key West Quail-Dove or La Sagra's Flycatcher, may be around the next bend in the trail.

Logistics:

This bonus trip begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale.

Attendance is limited to 10 people plus the leaders. The trip is full and signup is now wait-list only.

Trip price of $850.00 includes lodging, group vehicles (2), entrance fees, and guide service. A single supplement in the amount of $250 is required of those who do not wish, or are unable to, share a room. Participants are responsible for the cost of their transport to and from Florida and all meals, as well as items of a personal nature.

Note that visiting the Dry Tortugas requires a 70-mile boat ride in each direction. Inclement weather or adverse sea conditions could preclude visiting the Tortugas, although weather is generally favorable during late April

An initial deposit of $300.00 is due with your registration form to ensure a seat on this trip, and final payment is due by March 31, 2012. Participants may receive a full refund for cancellation until March 31, 2012. After this date refunds can only be made if someone can fill your seat.

Trip leaders are Bruce Smithson and Stacy Smaltz.

Here are some photos that were taken on this trip: