EnvironmentaL News

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Environmental Calendar for February 2025

These events are researched from several different online sources. Specific information, such as meeting places and hours, may change closer to the date, so please confirm all event information before going. Also call to ask for ticket prices.

Sat, 1st, 7:30a.m. Choctawhatchee Audubon Society’s Saturday Morning Bird Walk: Birding the North Walton Lakes. Join Jillian Clark in front of the Chautauqua Building at 95 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs to bird around Lake De Funiak, followed by a 30-minute drive to Lake Jackson, to look for Sandhill Cranes. Dress appropriately for the weather, with long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a hat. Take water and your own binoculars. Call Jillian with questions at 850-598-3063.

Wed, 5th, 10a.m. Walton County Master Gardener Lecture Series ‘Birds and Bees’. But not that kind! Escambia County Coastal Sustainability Agent Carrie Stevenson will speak on staging a pollinator love fest in your garden in time for spring, at the Walton County South Extension office at 70 Logan Lane, Grayton Beach. This is free, but reservations are required. To reserve a space, email waltonmg@ifas.ufl.edu or call 850-892-8172.

Thu, 6th, 6:30p.m. Choctawhatchee Audubon Society’s Evening Presentation on The Courtship Behavior and Biology of Threatened Shorebirds in the Florida Panhandle. This lecture will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center of the Crosspoint Church, 519 Helms St, Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 and the presentation is at 7:00. Admission is free. For more info, see the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society’s Facebook page. 

Sat, 8th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eden Gardens State Park’s Camellia Festival. View the park’s more than 340 Camellias and check out educational displays and presentations, purchase food and drink provided by B’s Smoking Barbecue. There will also be a 3 gallon Camellia sale by the Friends of Eden. This event is free with paid park admission. Eden Gardens is located at 181 Eden Gardens State Park, Santa Rosa Beach, 23459. For more information, call 850-267-8320.

Sat, 8th, 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. Help raise funds for the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center by attending their Birds & Brews Event. There will be food trucks, local craft beers, raffles, yard games, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Plus, meet their rescued birds and wild animals. There are also a Sober Driver Ticket and kids’ ticket price. The Biophilia Center, which educated hundreds of school children every year on nature, is located at 4956 E. Hwy 20, 4 miles east of Freeport, 32439. For ticket prices and more info, call them at 850-835-1824,

Sat, 15th, 7:30 a.m. Choctawhatchee Audubon Society’s Saturday Morning Bird Walk to the Wright Landfill and the Okaloosa Holding Ponds to look for shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and other winter residents, including the two Vermilion Flycatchers that have been in residence this winter. Meet along the west edge of Roberts Road, 200 feet NE of Task Force Pizza Company, Ft. Walton Beach. Wear long pants, closed-two shoes and a hat. Take water and your own binoculars. This walk will be led by Jim Anderton. Contact him with questions at 850-543-2221.

Mon, 17th, 9:00 a.m. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park guided plant stroll. Learn about local native plants by going on a walk and talk with Master Gardener and Master Naturalist Bill Kuenstler. Meet at Tram Stop #2 in the park. Topsail Hill is located at 7525 Hwy 30a, near where it intersects Hwy 98 in Santa Rosa Beach. This event is free with paid park admission. For more info, call the park at 850-267-8330.