Tenth Annual

Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival

September 26 - 28, 2008

The Tenth Annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival is scheduled for September 26 through 28 and will be anchored at Curry Hammock State Park, MM 56.2, Marathon, FL. Additional information is available by calling the Key Deer Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 305-872-0774 or Curry Hammock State Park at 305-289-2690. Register by calling 305-852-4486.

Friday September 26th

Friday Field Trip!
On Friday, join professional birder Larry Manfredi for an all-day birding excursion in search of pelagic birds off the Middle Keys. The trip will leave from Bud n Mary's marina in Islamorada in the morning, time TBA. Price will be $99 per person, $10 discount for registration before August 1.

Opening Reception

An opening event will be held the Marathon Garden Club, with dinner, a silent auction, and our keynote speaker.

Our keynote speaker is Roger L. Hammer, a native Floridian from Cocoa Beach and has lived in Homestead, Florida, since 1969. He has been a professional naturalist and director of Castellow Hammock Nature Center for the Miami-Dade Parks Department since 1977. He is also a part-time instructor and field trip leader for Fairchild Tropical Garden in Coral Gables.
He received the first Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award presented by the Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society in 1982 for "outstanding, consistent, and constant service in the areas of education, research, promotion, and preservation of native plants". Tropical Audubon Society awarded him the Charles Brookfield Medal in 1996 for "outstanding service in the protection of out natural resources". In 2003 he received the Green Palmetto Award for education from the Florida Native Plant Society.

Saturday September 27th

Field Trips
*Some activities below have limited space and require reservations, these may be made by calling 305-852-4486. Participation in most field trips requires registration.
Field trips are still being planned, details will be posted here as they become available. Check back often.

Environmental Fair
Curry Hammock will be the site of an Environmental Fair from 10 AM until 4 PM. There will be booths manned by many local environmental groups and agencies, as well as vendor booths. Admission is free.

Evening Program

Saturday evening Curry Hammock State Park will be open past the usual close of sunset for a concert by Valerie Wisecracker, an astronomy program, and a marshmallow roast for the kids. Admission is free.

Sunday September 28

Special Sunday Field Trip!
On Sunday, join professional birder Larry Manfredi for an all-day birding excursion to Dry Tortugas National Park. This trip boards at 7:30 AM in Key West and returns around 5 PM. Cost is $179 (discounts for early rgistration, student, child, senior, and military), and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Reservations are required. A special rate of $129 is available to Florida Keys residents with valid photo ID. See details on registration form (coming soon!).

Early Arrival Programs

If you arrive early in the Keys, some additional field trips are available.
Wednesday, September 24 at 10 AM, join a Curry Hammock State Park ranger for a 90 minute walk through a palm hammock, focusing on the struggle of life in this seeming paradise. Free for festival registrants, space is limited.
Thursday, September 25 at 11 AM, join a Curry Hammock State Park ranger for a 90 minute paadle around Little Crawl Key, including a section along a twisting, narrow manrgove creek. This tour focuses on how easily man damages the mangrove and seagrass communities. Park entrance waived for festival registrants, bring your own kayaks or rent from the park ($16 single, $20 double plus tax). Space is limited.

Camping Information

This year, Curry Hammock State Park's campground will be open for camping during the festival. Sites are reserved through Reserve America. Price is $31.49 a night including tax, all sites have water and 50/30/20 amp electric service, and there is a dump station in the campground.

Motel Information

Ranch House Motel, MM 51 Oceanside on the south (west) end of the the Marathon Airport. 305-743-2217. Very clean.

Coconut Cay Resort, MM 51, Bayside on the south (west) end of the Marathon Airport, 305-289-7672

Flamingo Inn, MM 59.3, 59299 Overseas Hwy., Grassy Key. 305-289-1478.

Holiday Inn, Marathon, MM 54, 132010 Overseas Hwy, 305-289-0222 or 800-224-5053.

Gulfview Motel, MM 58.5, 58743 Overseas Hwy, Grassy Key. 305-289-1414.

Yellowtail Inn, MM 58 Grassy Key (pet friendly). 305-743-8400 or 800-605-7475.