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Experience Nature at Rookery Bay’s

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21 Annual Festival of Birds in January

Other January Bird Activities
Forest Bathing, an alternative wellness practice focused on the
senses, will be led by a certified guide on Jan. 4 from
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Rookery Bay Environmental
Learning Center Learn Birding Basics with Rookery Bay’s Birding with Biologists
239-530-5972 class on Jan. 10, from 8 to 10 a.m.
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Just 15 minutes from downtown Naples 5 Avenue area
300 Tower Road, Naples, FL 34113 Artist Jan Deswick conducts two watercolors and wildlife
RookeryBay.org painting classes, one on Jan. 14 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and
Facebook.com/FriendsofRookeryBay st another on Jan. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Instagram.com/friendsofrookerybay 21 Annual Festival of Birds
Field Trip Locations, January 16 – 20, 2025 Instructor Sonny Saunders teaches how to get the best digital
All Season Long Registration is required.
RookeryBay.com/events Field trips to wildlife hotspots including Big Cypress National photographs of nature and other subjects on Jan. 18 at
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
RookeryBay.org/calendar Preserve, Bunche Beach Preserve, Clam Pass Park, Corkscrew
Sign Up for the monthly e-newsletter Swamp Sanctuary, Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, The Lunch & Learn lecture on Jan. 23 at noon features a
Open Rookery Bay Research Reserve, FL Panther Refuge, hot meal from Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Megan Hatten from
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge,
Tuesday - Saturday CREW Land & Water Trust, Six Mile Cypress Slough Refuge Audubon Florida will discuss breeding homes of wintering
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tigertail Beach. shorebirds.
Tickets
$10 for adults Keynote Presentation and Reception
$5 for ages 4-12 January 16, 2025, 5 – 8 p.m.
Children 3 and under are FREE
Registration is required.
Dr. Jerry Jackson, Professor Emeritus Florida Gulf Coast
University and host of “With the Wild Things” on WGCU radio
Reception with appetizers and drinks.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED for all field trips,
keynote presentation and activities at
rookerybay.org/events/festival-of-birds

ookery Bay Research Reserve is hosting the executive director. “Dr. Jackson’s positive messages
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21 Annual Festival of Birds in January about protecting wildlife and habitats is in line
R with bird themed activities all month long, with our mission to inform the public about the
a weekend filled with field trips to wildlife hotspots importance of conserving and protecting natural
and a presentation by world renowned wildlife places like Rookery Bay Research Reserve for future
biologist, ornithologist and host of "With the Wild generations to experience and enjoy.”
Things” radio broadcast Dr. Jerry Jackson, Professor Dr. Jackson taught for 30 years at Mississippi
Emeritus at Florida Gulf Coast University. State before coming to Florida Gulf Coast
Together with WGCU Public Media, Rookery University for 14 more years. He believes variety
Bay is celebrating Dr. Jerry Jackson’s 25 year is what makes Southwest Florida such a special
anniversary broadcasting “With the Wild Things” place to study wildlife. “The most interesting thing
a one minute look at a particular environmental is clearly the tremendous diversity of life here due
theme on WGCU public radio. Every weekday in part to our subtropical climate and the diverse
morning at 7:19 a.m., Dr. Jackson takes listeners to physical environments such as the coastal region,
Southwest Florida’s beaches, swamps and preserves nearby Everglades and
Visit RookeryBay.org
to learn about “the wild things.” Dr. Jackson will the pine, bald cypress and to learn more about upcoming
give a keynote presentation on January 16 to kick grassland habitats,” said events and programs at the
Rookery Bay Environmental
off a weekend of field trips. Dr. Jackson.
Learning Center.
“We are thrilled to partner with WGCU Public Also, Naturalist-led boat and
Media and celebrate the work of Dr. Jerry Jackson,” kayak eco-tours are available
says Athan Barkoukis, Friend of Rookery Bay’s all summer long!

Life in Naples | December 2024 79