Thousands expected to flock to birding festival

The Orange Audubon Society is hosting its North Shore Birding Festival Friday, Jan. 17, through Monday, Jan. 20. The fourth annual festival — based out of the McDonald Canal area, 24600 County Road 448A, Mount Dora — highlights the Lake Apopka North Shore, an important bird area.

The North Shore Birding Festival goal is to introduce visitors to other parts of the 20,000-acre North Shore, aside from area traversed by the increasingly popular Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.

Another goal is birding ecotourism since birdwatching is a growing hobby with economic impact.

The 2019 festival attracted attendees from 18 states plus two Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom. These “birding ecotourists” boost sales at local hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

Most of the 37 field trips allow driving into parts of the North Shore that otherwise are inaccessible except on foot or bicycle. Others explore additional locations in Central Florida in search of rare birds like the Florida Scrub-Jay and Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

For nature photographers, on each day there is a sunrise photography and birding trip, co-led by a skilled photographer and birder, plus a sunset photography and birding trip Sunday evening, a youth and family photo trip Saturday afternoon and digiscoping workshops Friday and Sunday.

There is no overall festival registration fee. Field trips and keynotes cost $20 to $60, which supports the Orange Audubon Society’s nature and environmental center fund. College students can register for trips at half price. See details and register at orangeaudubonfl.org/festival/. 

Reservations are necessary at orangeaudubonfl.org/ or by calling (407) 637-2525.

The event also is sponsored by the Central Florida chapter of National Audubon Society and au bon Flori.