Presentations

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Wednesday, January 22

Save Our Sea Grasses through Low Impact Living

Seagrass is considered the most crucial habitat in the Indian River Lagoon, acting as a primary food source and shelter for numerous marine species, including manatees, fish, and invertebrates. Presence of sea grass indicates the lagoon’s overall health, due to its sensitivity to water quality changes. A new report on the health of the Indian River Lagoon shows mixed results, with some areas improving while others are still struggling with sea grass growth. The complexity of the Indian River Lagoon makes it difficult to pinpoint one area of concern. In this presentation, Dr. Laura Wilson will share the importance of improving water quality and what each of us can do, including living shoreline restoration, using rain barrels, native plantings and buffer zones around ponds.

Date: Wednesday, January 22
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Bermuda Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Dr. Laura Wilson is Executive Director of the Marine Resources Council. Inspired by the natural world, Laura pursues work that brings together her love of learning, teaching, and exploring. Her background is in vertebrate paleontology, specifically studying ancient marine ecosystems that evolved in a greenhouse climate and comparing them to modern systems. After 12 years in academia, Laura realized she wanted to make a bigger impact on Earth’s future. She started as the Executive Director of MRC in June 2024, where she is able to employ strategic leadership, encourage data-informed decision making, facilitate collaborations, and encourage life-long learning.

Fakhatchee Strand’s Iconic Ghost Orchids and Other Rare Plants

The Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve is Florida’s largest state park and contains some of the most diverse rare plant life in the United States. Thirty-three kinds of ferns, some 10 feet high, grow here, the most on the continent. There are 16 species of bromeliads, air plants resembling pineapples, including some found only here. Forty-four kinds of orchids, all listed as threatened or endangered, are hidden in the dense tangle of jungle. These include the iconic ghost orchid. The Orchid Thief is a 1998 non-fiction book by American journalist Susan Orlean, based on her investigation of the 1994 arrest of horticulturist John Laroche and a group of Seminoles in south Florida for poaching rare orchids in the Preserve. The movie Adaptation with Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage was based on this book.

Date: Wednesday, January 22
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Montego Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Mike Owen worked thirty years as park biologist at Fakahatchee Strand and retired in summer 2023. A University of South Florida graduate, Mike worked for the state’s marine research division in St. Petersburg, but when he went to work for the park service, he found his niche. At home in the swamp, he found a balance between educating about Fakahatchee’s rare plants and protecting them.

Digiscoping Sparrows

In this presentation, you will learn about the art of digiscoping the often under appreciated sparrows. You will learn to find the beauty and joy in the common and uncommon sparrows of the US.

Date: Wednesday, January 22
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Jeremiah is originally from the Pineywoods of East Texas and is a lifelong nature lover and outdoorsman. He has always especially loved birds of prey. After watching Dr. Fitzpatrick’s lecture on the possible re-discovery of the ivory billed woodpecker he stumbled upon Cornell advertising a global big day. His first day birding was a big day in May 2020. He immediately became obsessed and started chasing everything He could. He fell in love with Digiscoping out of a need to try to get birds identified. He has since then fallen in love with sparrows and spent some of 2022 and all of 2023 digiscoping the sparrows of the United States. He has produced three calendars and two amateur photographic books of his phone photography. He now loves professional photography as well. He guides a bit now as well as became a Kowa brand ambassador in 2024.

How You Can Help Local Whales and Dolphins

The Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute focuses on local whales and dolphins and stranding response efforts. This workshop will highlight best practices if you discover a stranded or injured whale or dolphin, how you can help local dolphins, and the tools and techniques used by Hubbs-SeaWorld researchers to study dolphins – like photo-identification and tracking methods.

Date: Wednesday, January 22
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Wendy Noke Durden is a Research Scientist at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s Florida Laboratory. She began her marine mammal career by volunteering for the cetacean stranding network, while completing her Master’s at University of Central Florida on dolphin interactions with the commercial blue crab fishery. She has studied the population biology, behavioral ecology and health of marine mammals for over 20 years, publishing over two dozen scientific manuscripts. Wendy’s focus is the conservation, health and ecology of local whale and dolphin populations. She co-directs the marine mammal stranding program, is the lead investigator on Florida’s dolphin population ecology program, and directs Hubbs’ efforts to rescue and monitor entangled, out of habitat, or free-swimming dolphins in need of intervention. She oversees internships, undergraduate research projects and provides guidance to graduate students.

Why Native Plants Are Important

Why is WHAT you plant in your landscape important? Here’s the science to prove how important your landscape choices are. We’ll be sharing a copy of Dr. Doug Tallamy’s presentation ‘Restoring Nature’s Relationships’ with amazing nature photography which shows the relationship between plants and wildlife. This event is free to the public so please help us get the word out!

Date: Wednesday, January 22
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Antiqua Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Jane Higgins moved to Brevard County over 45 years ago from Maine. After working at Harris for 30 years in accounting and raising two children, she started following her mother’s passion for gardening. Her motivation to go native started when she realized her youngest son would be leaving for college and she would have to learn how to use a lawnmower to mow a lawn that didn’t look very good to begin with. Jane joined the Conradina Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society 12 years ago and has been on the Board for the past 10 years. She is also on the Landscaping with Florida Natives Tour Committee. The grass and the lawnmower are now both gone and she enjoys going outside to see what’s blooming and all the wildlife, recently including a Barred Owl. Jane is a huge fan of Dr. Doug Tallamy’s work and enjoys sharing his message with others!

Call of The Wild: The Amazing Sounds of Florida’s Wildlife

The Amazing Sounds of Florida’s Wildlife by David Mann, Haikubox
David Mann delves into the symphony of animal sounds that resonate throughout the diverse ecosystems of Florida. From the mesmerizing underwater harmonies of fish choruses, dolphins’ melodic whistles, and manatees’ endearing squeaks, to the alluring calls of Florida’s bird species, this talk unveils the intricate auditory world of the Sunshine State. Along the way, you’ll learn about new cutting-edge birdsong detection technology being used to build a community science monitoring network. David will share distinctive audio recordings to showcase the vast array of living creatures that enrich Florida’s distinctive acoustic environment, underscoring their significance and the importance of safeguarding these fragile ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.

Date: Wednesday, January 22
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Bermuda Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: David Mann has extensive experience in bioacoustics research and scientific instrumentation development. He earned his PhD in Biological Oceanography from MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, followed by 12 years as a faculty member at the University of South Florida where his lab studied hearing and acoustic communication in fishes and marine mammals. In 2003, he founded Loggerhead Instruments to design and sell underwater acoustic equipment for scientific research. Haikubox was hatched when David and a long-time colleague at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology envisioned an automatic birdsong identification product developed and sold by Loggerhead Instruments which incorporates technology created at the Lab.

Thursday, January 23

Conservation at the Brevard Zoo

Take a virtual look behind the scenes at Brevard Zoo, where we’ll be showcasing how we answer the call to conserving some of Florida’s most endangered species. This presentation focuses on the critically endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow program and the combined efforts of multiple agencies to monitor, protect, breed, and release hundreds of birds every year onto the Florida’s prairies to bring this species back from the brink of extinction. Attending this presentation will give you an insight into the recovery project as a whole and show you why this species matters.

Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Montego Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Kelly Currier is Conservation Coordinator at the Brevard Zoo and a conservationist with a passion for ecosystem biodiversity. She has centered her career working on species recovery projects and in wildlife rehabilitation. She specializes in husbandry for species that are a part of breeding and release programs that have specific habitat requirements and need to remain as wild as possible for release. Kelly joined Brevard Zoo three years ago and continues her work as the coordinator for the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow breeding project at the zoo, helping to develop it into the successful breeding program it is today.

Rain Garden Benefits and How to Develop Them

A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground. Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property. Rain gardens can also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, song birds and other wildlife.

Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Zachary Eichholz, works with the City of Cape Canaveral.

Monitoring Whales and Other Cetaceans

Sightings of the critically endangered Right Whales occur around coastal Central Florida in January. There are currently fewer than 375 North Atlantic Right Whales in existence, making local and regional volunteers essential in protecting these animals when they arrive off Central Florida’s shorelines each winter. The Blue World Research Institute trains and leads coastal volunteers to spot and report sightings of these whales, which migrate from Canada and New England to Georgia and Florida each winter to deliver their calves. The Blue World Research Institute responds to reports of large whale injuries and entanglements and train teams globally for this dangerous and critical work. This organization uses the latest technology to make a detailed health assessment of individual marine animals. Blue World Research Institute also works to stop trash and plastics from entering the oceans and waterways, and organizes coastal shoreline clean-ups, both on rivers and beaches, to pick-up and document the extent of the pollution problem.Description

Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Jamaica Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Julie Albert, director of the Blue World Research Institute’s Right Whale Sighting Network, https://bwri.org/.
earned a marine biology degree at Texas A&M in Galveston, Texas, and volunteered for the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network and working in cephalopod aquaculture — raising king penguins — before moving to Florida in 1999 to work as the Marine Resources Council’s Right Whale Program Coordinator. That program was taken over by Blue World Research Institute in 2023.

Discover Panama: A Birdwatcher’s and Nature Lover’s Paradise

Nestled between North and South America, Panama may be compact, but it rivals the natural splendor of much larger nations. This biodiversity hotspot, no bigger than South Carolina, is a treasure trove for nature enthusiasts. With over 1,015 bird species, along with diverse mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and more than 10,000 plant species, Panama’s ecological richness is nothing short of extraordinary.

Join Carlos Bethancourt, a seasoned guide with the Canopy Family, on a captivating photographic journey. Explore lush habitats, from the historic Canal Zone to the foothills of western Panama and the untamed beauty of the Darién lowlands in the east. Along the way, encounter everything from majestic toucans and vibrant hummingbirds to the elusive Panamanian Night Monkey and playful Kinkajous. Carlos’s engaging stories and vivid imagery will transport you right into the heart of Panama’s wilderness.

Prepare to immerse yourself in an adventure where each turn reveals why Panama is a paradise for birding and nature exploration.

Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Carlos Bethancourt was born in Panama City in 1978 and grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of Huile, a rural village near the Canal Zone. Influenced by his family’s deep connection to nature, he developed a passion for conservation and birdwatching from an early age. After high school, Carlos earned a scholarship to study natural resources and ornithology at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon. He began his career at the Canopy Tower in 2000, quickly establishing himself as a leading figure in the birdwatching community. Over the years, he has led tours, workshops, and presented at major birding events across the United States, Great Britain, and Germany, sharing his expertise with bird enthusiasts around the world. In 2018, Carlos was recognized as ‘Best Nature Tour Guide’ by EcoTripMatch. Today, he remains deeply involved in marketing and conservation projects for the Canopy Family, working to promote ecotourism and protect Panama’s natural treasures.

Audubon’s Birds of Florida by Clay Henderson

John James Audubon’s expedition to Florida 1831-1832 was the most significant journey of the famous artist/naturalist. The exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach entitled Audubon’s Birds of Florida chronicles this expedition. High-resolution reproductions of 39 birds Audubon painted from Florida together with 50 additional Florida birds from Birds of America are on display through March 5th at the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art of the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. Our presenter Clay Henderson curated the exhibit. His accompanying book Audubon’s Birds of Florida captures the history and art of Audubon’s six-month expedition to the Florida Territory, describing previously unknown birds of the Florida wilderness. The narrative retraces his journeys through swamps, encounters with Indians and pirates, and survival from violent storms. Clay visited and searched for birds in all the places Audubon visited from the St. Johns River to the Dry Tortugas.

Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Jamaica Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Clay Henderson has done extensive work in conservation land acquisition, developed the first county endangered lands acquisition program and helped launch Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever, the nation’s premier conservation programs. From 1995-2000 he served as President of Florida Audubon Society and prior to that was a member of the Board of Directors. In 1998 as a member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, he sponsored most of the environmental provisions in the Florida Constitution. Clay has visited and searched for birds in each of the places explored by John James Audubon and documented how those places have changed. He is a sixth generation Floridian and resides in New Smyrna Beach.

Birds & Culture in Southern Portugal

Southern Portugal offers a fantastic diversity of habitats and a large variety of birds, in a relatively small territory. All this, besides an excellent infrastructure and a rich cultural heritage, with winding streets, historic plazas and squares, an array of castles, cathedrals, museums, Roman ruins, promenades, culinary delights and great wines. Joao will talk about some of the practical aspects, should you plan a visit.

Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: João was born in Lisbon and studied Biology at the Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, from where he developed his professional career in the pharmaceutical industry, as senior manager and director of various multinational companies. With some 40 years of field experience, he has an intimate knowledge of the birds and birding in Portugal. He has travelled extensively in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas with birding as the main objective. João was a member of the national board of SPEA (BirdlLife International partner in Portugal) and was a voting member of the Portuguese Rarities Committee from 2005 until 2011 and chairman of the committee from 2007 until 2011. Author and co-author of articles about birds, João is also co-author of the book Where to Watch Birds in Southern Portugal. In 2008, he launched the first Portuguese company totally dedicated to the organization of birdwatching tours, Birds & Nature Tours Portugal, which he manages and guides many of its tours, as well as presenting bird identification courses. Besides birds, he has an active special interest in amphibians, reptiles and fish.

Friday, January 24

Conservation & Wildlife of the Western Caribbean, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Bocas del Toro, Panama, is not only unique, but also breathtaking! There are few places on earth where you can see all life-zones known to the Tropics. Bocas del Toro could be the most ecologically diverse place on planet Earth, we just haven’t found everything yet. Endemism of the local flora and fauna is off the charts. There are over 70 regionally endemic species of birds. A biological corridor of connected protected areas creates an extremely important zone for altitudinal tropical migrants, that rely on high altitude and low humid coastal forests to support their breeding and seasonal fruit foraging. The same habitat is also crucial for the North American migrants we know. Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge is a 700- acre reserve, created to include all stakeholders, to ensure that local habitats are protected and to provide a sustainable way of life for future stakeholders.

Date: Friday, January 24
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Jamaica Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Jim Kimball is an owner/operator of Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge in Bocas del Toro, Panama. He has lived on site for over 20 years with his wife and business partner, creating a world class, full service, wildlife preserve. In doing so, they have protected nearly 700-acres of old growth Low humid Atlantic forest in the Western Caribbean, a habitat vitally important to an extraordinary cornucopia of regionally endemic species of flora and fauna.

Feathers & Fermentation: Good Times for Good Causes

Enjoying unique ciders and beers from local small businesses, seeing and learning about birds in new and interesting ways, and raising awareness and funds for some of the best conservation organizations around- these are a few of my favorite things! If you’re into these things too, come to this program where I’ll discuss my Feathers & Fermentation event series in Indianapolis, perhaps inspiring you to make or join a similar program in your area.

Date: Friday, January 24
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Antiqua Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Wes Homoya was born and raised in Indiana, and as such is a firm believer in practicing Hoosier hospitality-living graciously with each other and this planet we all call home. This ethic was instilled in him by his parents: Barb, a nature-loving nurse who taught him compassion for little things like salamanders, and Michael, a botanist and author who exemplified not only why it’s important to know the names of the flora and fauna around you, but why we must share this knowledge with others. Eventually this desire to learn led to studying ecology and ornithology at Purdue University under the esteemed Dr. Barny Dunning. Various employments since have allowed him to live, work, and bird in wild places throughout Australasia, Southeast Asia (including a year in Hong Kong), Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe (including anti-poaching efforts with a bird conservation NGO on Cyprus). Currently, Wes resides in downtown Indy and spends his days conducting avian surveys throughout the Midwest, foraging wild ingredients for his brother’s libations at Ash & Elm Cider, and being an ambassador for birds and conservation in any way he can, whether via the Bird Safe Indy project for the local Audubon chapter or getting folks pumped up about birds n booze at his popular event series Feathers & Fermentation.

Restoring the Balance of the Indian River Lagoon

The current condition of the IRL didn’t change overnight – there was a recent defining moment that tipped the Lagoon from a more natural seagrass dominated system to a less natural algae dominated system. When we understand our roles in what ails the lagoon, we can better understand how to bring it back to a healthier balance.

Date: Friday, January 24
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Heather Stapleton graduated from Indiana University with triple majors in Environmental Studies, Political Science and French with an area concentration Public Affairs. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin, West Africa for three years. Previously, Heather was the Education Director at the Environmental Learning Center for 16 years. Currently a community engagement coordinator for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, she channels her passion for the environment into fostering community connections and helping people live more lagoon-friendly. She started her plastic free diet in February 2024 and for the most part, has stuck to it!

Demystifying Birding in Columbia – One Bird at a Time

Step into the world of an avid birder and discover Colombia’s birding wonders in all of its splendor! Explore the country’s most biodiverse regions, including the Andes Cordillera, the stunning Santa Marta mountains on the Caribbean Coast, and the captivating Amazon foothills. This presentation will introduce you to the iconic birds that make Colombia their home. You’ll be captivated by their colors, unique behaviors, and incredible songs. This is an invitation to immerse yourself in the magic of birding in Colombia and embark on a future adventure with us. Welcome to the birdiest country on earth!

Date: Friday, January 24
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Montego Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Giovani Ortiz is a Colombian birder on a mission to showcase the remarkable avian diversity of the world’s birdiest country. His journey with Icaro Birding began five years ago when he watched a documentary highlighting the sheer number of bird species in Colombia. Inspired, he joined a local birding club in New Orleans, where he was residing at the time.

What’s Going on at the American Birding Association (ABA)?

This talk will be an informal conversation with ABA’s executive director and Community and Conservation Director about the latest happenings at the American Birding Association. Come join them for news on planned activities, our Young Birder Program, the popular ABA podcast, and other happenings at ABA.

Date: Friday, January 24
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Antiqua Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Many festival attendees may recognize Kelly Smith as the ABA representative at various bird festivals and conferences around the ABA area. A research and conservation-minded naturalist, she has volunteered or served on the board of many nature organizations for the last fifteen years including the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival and Balcones Songbird Festival, the South Texas Border Chapter Texas Master Naturalists, the Friends of the Wildlife Corridor and the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Pelagics, the Texas Ornithological Society, and the Brandywine Zoo Kestrel Monitoring Program. She has also spent years assisting raptor and songbird banding projects in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Kelly puts her business degree to work for the ABA as the Finance and Operations Manager, program lead for the relaunched Birders’ Exchange initiative, and online store manager. When not at work or volunteering, Kelly spends her time hiking and kayaking around San Antonio, Texas and scuba-diving in the Caribbean.

About the Speaker: Wayne Klockner joined the ABA after a long career in conservation with The Nature Conservancy. Professionally, Wayne has lived and worked in Maryland, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, and Indonesia, fulfilling his dream to work conserving natural lands and waters for all life. Wayne has been a lifelong birder; as a pre-teen in New Jersey, his spark bird was the Dark-eyed Junco. He has since pursued birds in 19 countries and counting but most enjoys documenting the seasonal changes in birdlife in patches close to home. Wayne lives in Ocean City, Maryland with his wife, Lisa, and a springer spaniel named Lizzy. His best yard birds so far are White Ibis and Red Crossbill.

The Battles of Midway

Visit the world’s largest albatross colony while celebrating the greatest victory of the US Navy at the most famous atoll of the Pacific. We will witness amazing bird colonies and animal behavior, and unique coral reefs – all while exploring this remote island during its largest ecological restoration effort to protect these magnificent seabirds and their habitat.

Date: Friday, January 24
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Bermuda Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Dave Grant is the Director of Conservation at the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, NJ. When not studying whale sharks and the protection of all sharks and rays, he is often working on ships in polar regions studying birds and other wildlife. Fascinated by all marine life, he is particularly experienced in the behavior and conservation of colonial seabirds.

The Plastic Diet

Single-stream recycling aimed to boost recycling rates, but less is being recycled now. Most plastic is downcycled or not recycled at all, often becoming litter through curbside spills, wind, or wildlife. This litter harms birds, who ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, leading to malnutrition, poisoning, and death. Birds also use plastic in nests, which can harm chicks. Reducing single-use plastics can help. Heather Stapleton shares her journey of significantly reducing plastic use, finding empowerment in each successful change. One attendee to this talk will win a sustainable gift basket that will help you on your way to a plastic-free future!

Date: Friday, January 24
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

Saturday, January 25

eBird Tips and Tricks: Maximizing Your Use of the World’s Largest Citizen Science Database

Join Will Johnson, regional eBird reviewer for Brevard, Volusia, and Indian River counties, for an interactive and wide-ranging discussion on how to make the most of eBird for reporting and tracking your bird observations, exploring the birdlife in your area, and contributing to impactful citizen science. In this session we will place particular emphasis on demystifying the eBird review process and learning best practices for documenting your sightings so that you can become a more skilled and intentional (e)birder in the field. Whether you’re a veteran eBird user or completely new to the program, this session is designed so that everybody will take away valuable lessons they can apply during the festival’s many fantastic field trips.

Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Will Johnson serves as the regional eBird reviewer for Brevard, Volusia, and Indian River counties and contributes to local environmental organizations as a frequent guest speaker and tour leader. A lifelong resident and avid birder of east-central Florida, Will has developed a thorough expertise of local birdlife and is particularly knowledgeable about this area’s migration patterns, vagrancy trends, and biogeography. In addition to spending extensive time in the field, Will enjoys expressing his love of birds through art and illustration and has had his artwork featured in multiple local and national publications. Will recently graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, and he currently works remotely from Vero Beach, FL for a climate tech startup supporting nature-based carbon removal projects.

Let’s Be a Good Neighbor to the Lagoon

Native landscapes and tree protection are important for water quality and also for survival of birds.. Some birds only breed in older trees. Organic care of native trees provides hiding and resting habitat for birds. Fruit of trees provides migratory birds sustenance on their long trips. Katherine Booth will share what she has learned about care of trees for the environment.

Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Katherine Booth worked as a nurse practitioner and after retirement, she started a Conservation Club at her condominium association that has outreach into other homeowner associations, educating owners about Florida native plants and wildlife and innovations in technology to restore water quality. Since 2019, she has served on the City of Vero Beach Tree Protection and Beautification Commission, and most recently as Chairperson, she led the effort that improved the City’s Landscape and Tree Protection ordinances to help restore the water quality of the Lagoon. From her experience, Katherine founded a nonprofit environmental organization Let’s Be a Good Neighbor to the Lagoon, with the message that native plant landscaping and organic care of native trees are a “solution to pollution” and critical to clean air and clean water for human
health.

Birding Amazonas and Other Great Spots in South America

In this presentation you will learn about Zyba Outdoors, which operates three flagship projects:

Mamirauá, located deep in the Amazon;
Xingu, an indigenous reserve situated within a protected area
Patizal, nestled in the Atlantic Forest.

Tours are designed to take participants to these premier birdwatching destinations, where we implement training programs and actively support community development initiatives. We mix these locations with other well establish projects, to give our guests the best Brazilian experience. Our Communities Project is built on the belief that a preserved forest must provide as much or more value to local communities than it would if used for cattle ranching or monoculture farming. We see this as a long-term investment—in both the land and its people. We aim to attract tourists who seek unique, meaningful experiences while contributing to the preservation of the forest and its cultural heritage.

Zyba serves as a partner in the projects, supporting the promotion and organization of activities while also funding improvements and training in the communities. This initiative benefits more than 60 families by creating jobs for tour guides, kitchen and cleaning services, accommodations, and logistics for supplies, as well as providing donations of basic items. Birdwatching in our destinations is available year-round. However, we recommend visiting during the dry season, but before the regions become excessively dry, to maximize your experience.

Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Bermuda Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Mauricio Piza is a biologist and one of the owners of Zyba Outdoors, a small travel agency from Brazil hosting birdwatching trips across South America.

Is Prescribed Fire Really Good for Birds?

Is prescribed fire really good for birds? How do we know? With successive steps backwards in time Tim Kozusko will explain how we know that fire is a natural process that most ecosystems in Florida require to be good habitat for birds and other organisms.

Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Jamaica Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Tim Kozusko recently retired after a career at Kennedy Space Center as an ecologist. He was born and raised in Cocoa Beach Florida and is a board member of the Merritt Island Wildlife Association. He has 20 years experience with prescribed fire in central Florida. He resides in Melbourne Beach with wife Laura.

Gateway to Trinidad: The Asa Wright Nature Center

Located in the lush rainforest of Trinidad’s northern range, the Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC) is one of the most beautiful and accessible places in the Caribbean to see and learn about the island’s abundant flora and fauna. The William Beebe Tropical Research Station, also known as Simla, is a 211-acre tropical research facility with more than 1,000 adjoining acres available for research activities. Starting in the early 19th century as a cocoa plantation, it shifted to coffee and cocoa production, leveraging Trinidad’s favorable climate and rich volcanic soil. Hadco Experiences now operates the property as an ecolodge. Birdwatching, hiking including to secret trails to waterfalls, witnessing endangered Leatherback turtle nesting, and enjoying unique cultural immersions await you at the Asa Wright Nature Center.

Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Bermuda Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Rachael Nathaniel came to Asa Wright Nature Center with years of experience in the hospitality industry.

How Important Are Caterpillars for Birds? Critical!

Birders know that migratory birds need berries for sustenance. Birders know which trees they are most likely to find birds feeding on. Some birders are also native plant gardeners and are contributing to creating habitat for birds in their own yards and neighborhoods. Even more important than fruits or any other insects are the caterpillars. With information from Scott Weidensaul’s beautiful book Living on the Wind and Dr. Doug Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope, combined with her own experience growing native plants and birding in Central Florida, Deborah Green will share how caterpillars relate to timing of spring migration in the Eastern United States. She will share what are the best trees for caterpillars and thus the best trees for birds.

Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Deborah Green, who earned her Ph.D in entomology at University of California, Berkeley, knows a lot about small caterpillars, and now as a birder, is fascinated by the plant/caterpillar/songbird story. Deborah founded and chairs the committee running the NORTH SHORE BIRDING FESTIVAL on the Lake Apopka North Shore, serves as president of Orange Audubon Society and has directed Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival starting in May of this year.