Programs

As part of our extensive community outreach programming, CAS hosts a series of educational events. With few exceptions, these meetings are free and open to the public. They are designed to educate, entertain or both, and to better acquaint our members and area residents with the species that we steward. Each event begins with a Mix & Mingle session where you can meet a variety of people from all walks of life who share a common passion.

Monthly meetings are held at Moccasin Lake Nature Park the 1st Monday of the month (unless a holiday) from October to May. Meet & Greet at 6:30PM, Program begins at 7PM.

October 6 Dr. Geoffrey Hill
Clearwater Audubon Society welcomes back Dr. Geoffrey Hill to our first program of the season! He is an Auburn University professor, ornithologist, and author of National Geographic Bird Coloration. His special interest is coloration, so this talk will be enlightening and educational. Why is a cardinal red or a bluebird blue?
Trained as an evolutionary and behavioral ecologist, Dr. Hill leads an integrative research program investigating the function and evolution of animal ornamentation. He has been a professor at Auburn for 27 years and holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Michigan. His current research interest is the co-adaptation and co-evolution of mitonuclear elements within eukaryotes. At the program on October 6th, we will be doing a giveaway of 3 copies of Dr. Hill's book, National Geographic Bird Coloration. Book info...

November 3rd Potluck & Audubon's Hog Island Teen Campers
Sponsored by Clearwater Audubon, these teen birders will share about their adventures at camp. Please provide your own dinnerware and a dish to share. Drinks provided by CAS. Potluck setup at 6:30, presentation to follow.

December 1st Birds of Panama with Madeleine Bohrer
What do you get when you add 7 days + 12 friends + endless birds? A great trip to Panama! Join us to share our experience!

January 5th “Citizen Science Data Paints a Picture" with Dave Goodwin.
Dave will share how Citizen Science through two Breeding Bird Atlas projects 25 years apart paints a picture of what’s happening with our birds.

February 2nd “Birds of the Southern Oceans” w/ Tom and Lindsey Bell
The Bells are world travelers and will bring us more of their amazing photography.

March 2nd Spring Warbler Identification with Don Fraser
Would you like to improve your skills at identifying Spring Warblers? Don will be sharing his expertise and lots of tips on identifying warblers in the field. Just in time for Spring migration.

April 6th Felts Audubon Preserve; A Haven for Birds and Birders with President of Manatee County Audubon, Patty Ford.
Patty will share her insights on managing the preserve, a vital birding hotspot in our region. Her presentation will cover habitat management strategies that support a wide range of avian species.

May 4th Florida's Scrub Jay with Laurie Dolan of FWC
The Florida Scrub Jay is Florida's only endemic bird. This fascinating bird is imperiled, but restoring essential habitat can bring this bird back. Join us for an evening of education and discussion about the public lands conservation work.