Nature Calls

Mangrove Chapter FNPS Activities
The mission of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. The Mangrove Chapter serves Charlotte County and southern Sarasota County. Visit them online at mangrove.fnpschapters.org. For more information, contact them at [email protected].

Lemon Bay Park Walk
Join the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County and the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Park Society on a free nature walk on Thursday, June 6, 9 to 11am, at Lemon Bay Park & Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd. Dr. Mary Davis will lead this easy one mile walk through a saltwater to upland eco-tone. Discussion will include everything from the Lemon Bay estuary to pine scrub. Meet at the Native Plant Garden entrance. Please register for this walk at Eventbrite.com/o/ufifas-extension-sarasota-county-422952084 and click on the event. For more information, contact [email protected].

Deer Prairie Creek Walk
Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society on Thursday, June 13, 9 to 11am, on a free guided walk at Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, 10201 S. Tamiami Trail, North Port (use the Google Map app). Dr. Mary Davis will lead this ecological walk that will focus on the ecology of the Myakka River as well as the mosaic of communities that are characteristic of the SW Florida Pine Flatwoods ecoregion. Meet at the dam on Deer Prairie Creek. All are welcome. For more information, contact [email protected].

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) Activities
 On these casual walks with CHEC volunteers, you will search for and learn about plants, animals, fungi and more, that live in Charlotte County preserves. Prepare for each walk with plenty of water, insect repellent, sunscreen, and clothing that will protect you from insects and plants. Advance registration is required. Go to CHECflorida.org for a complete program calendar and registration links. For more information on programs, please call 941•475•0769 or email [email protected].

Bayshore Live Oak Park
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the 80-acre Bayshore Live Oak Park on Wednesday, May 22 at 8am. Historical figures and beautiful views characterize this park located along the Charlotte Harbor at 23157 Bayshore Road, Port Charlotte. Meet in the parking lot by the playground. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Guided Kayak EcoTour
CHEC and Biotica EcoTours are offering a guided kayak tour of Lemon Bay around Cedar Point Environmental Park and the surrounding mangrove habitats, including the nearby bird rookery on Friday, May 24, 10:30am to 1pm. The tour is perfect for all skill levels and wonderful for nature lovers. The tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours and is easy-paced paddling. The fee is $60 per person which includes your kayak and all other equipment for the day. Meet at the kiosk by the visitor center at Cedar Point Park, 2300 Placida Road. Registration is required by calling Biotica EcoTours at 941•350•4905 or at bioticatours.com/eco-tours.

Nighttime Seagrass Wading Trip
Embrace your inner nocturnal side and join CHEC for a two-hour nighttime wading adventure through the seagrass beds of Lemon Bay on Tuesday, May 28, 6:30 to 8:30pm. Search for, catch and release sea creatures in Lemon Bay and learn about aquatic plants and animals from a CHEC Naturalist. Meet at visitors center at Cedar Point Environmental Park, 2300 Placida Road. Program fee is $15 and advance registration is required at checflorida.org. For questions, call 941•475•0769.

Amberjack Environmental Park
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the scrub and pine flatwoods of 225-acre Amberjack Environmental Park on Wednesday, May 29 at 8am. Meet at 6250 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., where the street dead ends. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Guided Hike at Cedar Point
Join CHEC for a free guided tour of the beautiful 115-acre Cedar Point Environmental Park on Saturday, June 1 at 8am. Meet outside the Cedar Point Visitor Center at 2300 Placida Road. To register, fill out the online form at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Seagrass Wading Trip
Join CHEC for a free wading adventure through the seagrass beds of Lemon Bay on Saturday, June 15, 9 to 11am. Participants will walk approximately one-half mile to the wading site where they will collect and view creatures of the bay. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that may get wet. Also recommended are sunscreen, insect repellent and water. Advance registration is required. Call 941•475•0769 or email [email protected].

Lemon Bay Conservancy News
The free guided nature walks and activities shown below are sponsored by Lemon Bay Conservancy and will be held at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., Englewood. Please come prepared for a hike. The preserve can be “buggy” this time of year. Consider wearing long sleeves and long pants. Water, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and hiking shoes are recommended. Some people like to bring a walking pole. Binoculars are useful for observing more distant birds and other animals. Website: lemonbayconservancy.org.

Guided Nature Walk
LBC volunteer naturalist Sus d’Hont will lead a nature walk on Friday, May 17 and Friday, May 31 at 8:30am through Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd. See what’s blooming, watch for wildlife and learn about the various ecosystems that make up the preserve. These walks are free and open to the public. A water bottle, closed-toe shoes, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, camera and binoculars are suggested. No reservation needed.

Preserve Intro Walk
Join Paul Townsend for his monthly “Wildflower 101” introductory guided walk on Tuesday, June 4, 8 to 9:30am. During this short, casually paced walk at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve (3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd.) you can expect to see upland and wading birds, native and Florida-friendly plants, butterflies & other insects, pond environments and the Labyrinth on the Hill. This walk is open to the public. Wear closed-toe walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, bug spray and a water bottle.

Venice Audubon Society News
 The Venice Area Audubon Society serves south Sarasota County and offers activities, educational programs, birding field trips and provides support for birds and wildlife with a pollinator garden & native plants at the Venice Area Audubon Rookery Park, located at 4002 S. Tamiami Trail via Annex Road, Venice. New members are welcome. Learn more at veniceaudubon.org or email [email protected].

Pennington Park Nature Walks
Rob Mills leads nature walks every Saturday at 8:30am at Audubon Pennington Park, 1153 Alton Road, Port Charlotte. Join him as he relays colorful stories about how the park got its name and explains the historical background, in addition to identifying native plants. The ¾ mile trail goes to three ecosystems: oak hammock, pine flatwoods and cypress swamp. Learn more at peaceriveraudubonsociety.org.

Calling All Book Lovers
The Venice Area Audubon Society is kicking off a Venice Area Book Club this summer. Plan to join them on the second Monday of the month beginning in June. Two discussion groups will be available. An in-person group will meet at the Venice Audubon Center at 4002 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, on Monday, June 10, 10 to 11am, Please register for this session at veniceaudubon.org/events. A second discussion group will meet online via Zoom with the date/time to be announced. June’s book selection is “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson. The July book will be Noah Stryker’s “Birding Without Borders: An Obsession, A Quest and the Biggest Year in the World” and the in-person meeting will be Monday, July 8 at 10am. For more information, go to veniceaudubon.org.

Peace River Audubon Society
The Peace River Audubon Society (PRAS) was founded in 1977 and their mission is to foster an awareness of Florida birds and other wildlife through education, exploration and conservation. They offer walks, educational programs and promote conservation. PRAS collaborates with Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) for volunteer activities as well as to maintain the native plant nursery, bird blind and purple martin gourd array at the CHEC Punta Gorda location. You can find information about bird identification, birding hotspots, yard certification and more on their website. Annual memberships are $20 for a family. Learn more at peaceriveraudubonsociety.org or visit them on Facebook.

Society Speaker Meeting
The Peace River Audubon Society speaker meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 6:30pm, at the Regional Realtor Education Center at 3320 Loveland Blvd. in Port Charlotte. Dan E. Roberts, Jr of FWC & FWRI will speak about the Western Florida Marine Shelf and on the Diverse Ecosystem, as well as Commercial Fishing and the Mounting Problems. The public is welcome to attend. There will be a quick meeting where refreshments will be available.

Ding Darling Refuge Walk
PRAS will guide a Shorebird Car Caravan on Saturday, May 18th at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, One Wildlife Drive, on Sanibel Island. Meet at the Bailey Tract (parking lot kiosk) at 9am. It will be exciting to see the birds from air-conditioned cars! Each car in the caravan will have a fee of $10 per car to get into the refuge, plus there is a fee for the Sanibel Causeway of $6 (but if you don’t have a FL toll transponder, it will cost $9). Plan to stay for brunch at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille at 2500 Island Inn Rd. Carpools are encouraged at the Kings Hwy Walmart parking lot near Culvers. RSVP at the website or call 615•477•9067.