Stephen Ingraham (who?)
the unofficial site for birders and digiscopers using Zeiss equipment.
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Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival The Space Coast festival is one of the fastest growing in America. This year they moved the festival from November, where it has been for the past 9 years, to January, on the theory that 1) the birds are better, 2) more people might want to visit Florida in January than in November, and 3) the birds are better!
Birds. That's what is really all about, and the variety of habitats, from Florida scrub, to pine forest, to the vast coastal marshes of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, draws birds in numbers...numbers of species and numbers of individuals. Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island has recovered fully from the hurricanes of the past few years, and there were more birds present this year than I, personally, have ever seen there. The Roseate Spoonbills were there in force, and right out next to the tour loop this year (in the past I have seen them only in the back sections of the refuge). The wintering waterfowl, despite the mild winter north, were present in good numbers (their numbers increased daily while we were there). And, of course, the herons and egrets and Osprey (and Alligators!) were on display all over. There were even two conveniently placed Eagle nests, one with chicks, and several of us had sightings of the growing population of Florida Bobcats (huge Bobcats by my north-eastern standards). If you have not yet attended the Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival, it needs to move to your short list of places to go. I can't think of anywhere that is better for birds, and the festival itself is always a delight. And where better to be than Florida in January. Images with larger versions available have a
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The birds were better and more people came. With 10 years behind them, the festival organizers have the logistics down, and they have gathered a lot of local support. You get the feeling that this is a very healthy festival. The locals are up-beat, the special guests (speakers and, this year, professional tour leaders) are happy to be there, and the attendees are delighted with the arrangements and the birds. 
. Click on the image.
