13th Annual SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NATURE FESTIVAL

Explore the local environment through almost 40 guided field trips to wildlife hot spots around Southwest Florida and programs at Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center January 13 – 15, 2017.

Field trips, including birding walks, buggy rides and boat tours, are offered in conjunction with partners such as Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Big Cypress National Preserve and Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Field trip prices range from $15 – $135, and registration is required.

Activities at Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center take place 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. on Friday, January 13, with buy-one/get-one FREE $5 admission, and guests may enjoy lunch from the Sizzle Truck from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

On Saturday, January 14, the Environmental Learning Center is open 9 a.m. to4 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes three featured lectures:

•  1 p.m.: A 10,000 mile Journey, the Life Cycle of the Swallow-tailed Kite.Hear the results of ARCI’s latest research on swallow-tailed kites from guest speaker Gina Kent, research ecologist and coordinator at Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI).
• 2 p.m.: Seabird Banding, Revealing the Mileage. Learn about how banding has helped researchers understand the amazing lives of seabirds and shore birds from guest speaker Adam
• 3 p.m.: Life of a Volunteer Bird Steward, A Photographic Journey. See breathtaking images of beach nesting birds, burrowing owls, and Florida’s Critical Wildlife Areas through the eyes of a local conservation champion and award-winning nature photographer Jean Hall.

Lunch is available on-site from the Sizzle Truck from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saturday’s on-site activities resume at 5:30 p.m.with the Keynote Presentation, My Big Year Birding Adventure in North America, by author Sandy Komito. Komito is the only birder in North America who’s ever done two record-setting “Big Years,” each of which exceeded 700 bird species observed. His experience helped inspire the book and movie “The Big Year.” Admission to the evening keynote presentation is $15.

What:
13th Annual Southwest Florida
Nature Festival
When:
January 13-15, 2017
Where:
Rookery Bay
Environmental Learning Center
300 Tower Road, Naples, FL 34113
How:
Register for field trips at rookerybay.org/learn/swfl-nature-festival.html