ID Workshops

Friday, January 24

Warbler Identification Workshop

Warblers present an ID challenge to even the most experienced birders. Even in their bright spring colors, they flit and jump and just don’t give you much you much to go on. Come hear some of the tips and tricks for putting a name to these flitty little jobs that David Simpson has learned over decades of birding.

  • Date: Friday, January 24
  • Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
  • Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Bermuda Room
  • Cost: $10.00

About the Speaker: David has over 30 years of experience leading tours, is familiar with all aspects of Florida wildlife, and has an extensive knowledge of land management practices, local history, native plants, snakes, frogs, and many other critters you encounter in Florida.

Sparrow Identification Workshop

This talk introduces the identification and natural history of sparrows regularly found inland in Florida. Once you understand the basics of the combination of behavior, appearance, and distribution for this fascinating group of birds, you can begin to chip away at the term “little brown job” and get more out of your sparrowing experience.

  • Date: Friday, January 24
  • Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Bermuda Room
  • Cost: $10.00

About the Speaker: An Anhinga sparked Adam’s passion for birds when he was a little kid. Since then, an enthusiasm for the natural world has led him to a variety of jobs included assessing sites for the Great Florida Birding Trail, working as Florida’s first Scrub-Jay Conservation Coordinator, and as a biologist and natural history tour leader. He also conducts Breeding Bird Surveys, Christmas Bird Counts, and other bird surveys. Adam is a past President of the Florida Ornithological Society and is on the steering committee of Florida’s second Breeding Bird Atlas. Adam has been leading bird identification workshops since the 1990s.

Sunday, January 26

Shorebird Identification Talk and Field Trip

Join David, Dee and Jessica to learn tips and tricks of basic shorebird identification. After an indoor presentation, we will go afield to test your skills.

  • Price: $60
  • Date: Sunday, January 26
  • Time: 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
  • Type: Meet on site.
  • Arrival Details: Meet at Dixie Crossroads, 1475 Garden St, Titusville, FL 32796, at 7:15 a.m. for a talk about shorebirds. We will then carpool to a site where you will put your new skills to the test.
  • Leaders: David Simpson, DeeFairbanks Simpson, Jessica Sodano
  • Participant Limit: 15
  • Accessibility: Some walking on possible mud and/or uneven surfaces.
  • Additional Site Information: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island

About the Speaker: David Simpson has over 30 years of experience leading tours, is familiar with all aspects of Florida wildlife, and has an extensive knowledge of land management practices, local history, native plants, snakes, frogs, and many other critters you encounter in Florida.

About the speaker: Dee Fairbanks Simpson is a long time Florida Park Service volunteer, monitoring Eagles, Manatees and Scrub Jays. She is a birder, writer, artist and Florida Master Naturalist – skills which she applies to her work with her husband’s business, Birding with David Simpson. Using puppets, props and a healthy dose of humor, Dee strives to make their classes and materials fun and educational. She writes a daily blog in the form of a short poem with photos featuring Florida’s flora and fauna. Dee also creates short films about nature and birding, some of which can be viewed at film festivals and online.