Viva Florida 500: The Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival Takes Flight Jan. 23

Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival

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See a part of Florida that’s as untouched today as when Spanish explorers arrived 500 years ago during the 16^th annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Titusville, January 23-28.

 Thanks to extensive conservation efforts since the 1970s, Florida’s Space Coast is a haven for birds and other beasts that live in and migrate to its thousands of acres of protected land, and has long been a hotspot for avian and wildlife enthusiasts. The festival is not only a great opportunity to learn about the area’s wetlands and wild inhabitants from local naturalists, but also a chance to get your feet wet (literally!) on field trips into the protected lands to spot rare species.

 Festival Highlights include:

• —Birding and wildlife viewing trips to Blue Heron Wetlands, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary to spot bald eagles, peregrine falcons, roseate spoonbills and more — including the occasional alligator.
   
• —Photography workshops designed to help fine-tune your bird shooting (with cameras), hosted by certified naturalist photographers and Audubon Society professors.
   
• —Up-close programs with raptors, owls, gopher tortoises and more, hosted by biologists from the Brevard County Zoo.
   
• —Barbecues and brunches with like-minded wildlife lovers.

See the full lineup of events at spacecoastbirdingandwildlifefestival.org. This event is also part of Visit Florida's Viva 500 commemoration, honoring the anniversary of Ponce de Leon's landing in Florida. Find more events around Florida at Florida Travel + Life's new events calendar.

Tags: birding | festival | Space Coast | Titusville | Viva Florida 500