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20 Annual Festival of
th
Birds Hosted by Rookery
Bay Research Reserve
January 12–21
Field trips to wildlife hotspots
Wildlife Conservation Film Festival

January 18 from 4-7 p.m.
Keynote welcome and awards ceremony
Rookery Bay Environmental featuring actress Holly Marie Combs
Learning Center Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center,
300 Tower Road, Naples, FL 300 Tower Road, Naples

Open Tuesday - Saturday $15 for each film series
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Field trips start at $10

$10 for adults All tickets include admission to the Rookery
Bay Environmental Learning Center during
$5 for children ages 3-12 normal operating hours from January 12-20.
rookerybay.org
239-530-5972 Registration is required for all activities at
rookerybay.org/events/festival-of-birds

Wildlife films to premiere at Rookery Bay’s Festival of Birds

th
ookery Bay Research Reserve celebrates its 20 Annual Field Trips
Festival of Birds this month by adding a four day Wildlife The Festival of Birds kicks off on January 12 with its popular
R Conservation Film Festival to the event offerings. field trips to see birds and experience nature.
The festival runs January 12 - 21, 2024 and features eco-tour There are birding walks in Big Cypress National Preserve,
field trips to a dozen wildlife hot spots, art and photography Bunche Beach Preserve, Clam Pass Park, Corkscrew Swamp
classes, a guided forest bathing experience, and the Florida Sanctuary, Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, Harns
premiere of more than 40 wildlife documentaries, including four Marsh, Marco Island, Rookery Bay Research Reserve, Ten
making their world premiere. Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Tigertail Beach.
“We are excited to showcase the work of award-winning Participants can go bike riding in Big Cypress or at
filmmakers as part of Rookery Bay’s Festival of Birds this Corkscrew. Other activities include a swamp walk, swamp buggy
year,” says Athan Barkoukis, Friend of Rookery Bay’s executive tour, and boat cruises at sunrise and sunset to watch hundreds of
director. “The popularity of film festivals in Southwest birds fly in and out of roosting islands.
Florida makes partnering with the long-established Wildlife Related Events
Conservation Film Festival a natural fit.” Rookery Bay celebrates birds and nature throughout January.
Held in New York City since 2010 but moving now to Guided kayak and boat tours are held daily all month, led
Naples, the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival informs, by biologists who are experts in the local plants and animals.
engages, and inspires audiences about the importance of Trips go through shallow waters to mangrove tunnels and barrier
protecting global biodiversity. islands.
• Fades acne scars The 40 films are divided into 8 series featuring these regions: Forest Bathing, an alternative wellness practice focused on the
• Effectively contours, lifts and tightens loose skin Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, Oceans, Polar, senses, will be led by a certified guide on January 6 from
• Smooths and improves uneven skin texture and South and Central America. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Topics include cockatoos, elephants, gorillas, jaguars, koalas,
• Reduces skin irregularities including the appearance of stretch marks killer whales, manatees, monkeys, ocelots and more. Artist Jan Deswick conducts two watercolors and wildlife
• Improves hyperpigmentation The documentaries range from 5 minutes to 74 minutes, painting classes, one on January 9 and another January 11, both
from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
• Promotes collagen production in the underlying dermis layers averaging about 30 minutes. Instructor Sonny Saunders teaches how to get the best digital
The films will be shown from 12 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on photographs of nature and other subjects on January 20 at
January 17 - 21 in the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Center’s 130-seat theater-style auditorium with cushioned seats. The Lunch & Learn lecture on January 24 at noon features a
Tickets are available to each series individually. hot meal from Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
A dozen filmmakers will attend the festival and discuss their Bella Reyes from the Tropical Visit RookeryBay.org
works. Actress Holly Marie Combs, a Wildlife Conservation Research and Education Center at the to learn more about upcoming
Film Festival board member best known for her roles of University of Florida will discuss how events and programs at the
Kimberly Brock in Picket Fences and Piper Halliwell in mangroves provide important functions Rookery Bay Environmental
Learning Center. Also,
Charmed, will give the keynote welcome during the awards to South Florida. Naturalist-led boat and
presentation on January 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. kayak eco-tours are available
all summer long!

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