North Shore Birding Festival scheduled for December 3-7

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The fifth annual North Shore Birding Festival on Lake Apopka will include four days loaded with 42 field trips that will observe COVID-19 precautions, sunrise photography and birding trips, a star walk at Wekiwa Springs State Park, and more.

Sponsored by the Orange Audubon Society, the festival will take place in person from Thursday, December 3, through Monday, December 7.

“A lot of people really want to get out in nature and specifically birding and to learn from good birding leaders,” said Deborah Green, Orange Audubon Society publicity chair.

Green further explained that the event corresponds with the popularity of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive since it reopened on June 12 after the COVID-19 shutdown.

“New people, including families, have found the drive and the popularity is tremendous,” she said. “People believe that outside activities like birding are not dangerous for spread of COVID-19, as long as care is taken. And people appreciate the fun and solace of nature.”

To observe COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, face coverings will be required and social distancing will be practiced. Each trip will have a limit of 10 people and two leaders guiding the trip. The trips have a charge of $10 to $70, with no additional festival registration fee.

The purpose of the birding festival has been to demonstrate the birding tourism as an economic force, Green said. Proceeds support Orange Audubon Society’s nature and environmental center fund and related educational programs.

To learn more about the North Shore Birding Festival and sign up, visit www.orangeaudubonfl.org/festival. For additional information, call 407-637-2525.

The Apopka Chief and The Planter are independently-owned and family-operated newspapers that have served the Apopka area since 1923 and 1965, respectively. The Apopka Chief is a subscription-based publication that is delivered each Friday by U.S. Mail, and The Planter is a free publication that is published each Thursday.