FOW Blog

Orlando Wetlands Park Insect Walk

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jutta

On Saturday, June 8, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Friends of the Orlando Wetlands volunteers Mary Keim and Randy Snyder will lead an insect walk. This one-mile walk is in conjunction with the Orlando Wetlands Park Education Center’s “Insect” theme for June and July. The walk is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. Those under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
We will look for insects, identify them, and talk about their life histories as we walk. Please bring water to drink, closed-toed shoes and a hat or other sun protection. Bring lunch if you plan to enjoy more of the park after the insect walk. Meet at the west side of the parking lot at Orlando Wetlands Park (25155 Wheeler Rd, Christmas, FL 32709) by 9:00 a.m.
For directions and more information about the park, see: http://www.cityoforlando.net/public_works/wetlands/Park_Information.htm
If you have questions about the walk, contact Mary and Randy at rsnyder11@cfl.rr.com

Mary Keim, May 5, 2012

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Boy Scouts visited Orlando Wetlands Park

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Jutta

Anthony (AJ) Gallina from Boy Scout Troop 283 took on constructing the Wetlands Park Bat House. The Bat House is located about 100 yards north of the main parking lot. The Bat House is actually 3 bat boxes that can hold approximately 500 bats each. AJ and the rest of the scouts built, mounted and raised the 20′ tall structure. They also designed and constructed a sign that stands in front of the bat house. Thank you to AJ and the rest of the Troop 283 Scouts for this great improvement to the Park.

On April 6, 2013, Cub Scout Pack 137 from Christmas, Florida came to the Wetlands Park for a guided tour. Friends of the Wetlands Volunteer Joe Garchinsky led the Pack on a walking tour of the Wetlands Park where several alligators and wading birds were seen. It was a good time had by all.

Cub Scout Pack 137

On April 13, 2013, Cub Scout Pack 134 from Orlando Florida came to the Wetlands Park for a visit. Friend of the Wetlands volunteers Mark and Jane Pollitt gave them an overview of the Park and then led them on a hike along the wetland berm roads. Everyone had a great time.

Mark Sees, May 3, 2013

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Spring is here!

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Jutta

Spring has arrived at the Orlando Wetlands Park! Come visit to experience blooming flowers, bustling bees, and new babies! For the months of April and May, the education center feature “Plants of the Wetland”. Beautiful wetland plants photos taken by FOW volunteers will be featured on display as well as samples of select specimens. Spring is a great time to catch some of the Wetland’s most beautiful flowering plants including Golden Canna, Prairie Iris, Tickseed, Blanket Flower, and much more!

Golden Canna(Canna flaccida)

Prairie Iris(Iris hexagona)

Leavensworth's Tickseed(Coreopsis leavenworthii)

Blanket Flower(Gaillardia pulchella)

Tracy Waguespack, Education Specialist Orlando Wetlands Park
March 29, 2013

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Friends of the Orlando Wetlands (FOW) – Join Us!

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Jutta

Immature Black-crowned Night-Heron

The Friends of the Orlando Wetlands (FOW) is a citizen support organization for the City of Orlando’s Orlando Wetlands Park. Its mission is to work with the City of Orlando in providing educational opportunities to increase community awareness, support and appreciation of the park and its wildlife.

FOW invites you to join its volunteer efforts that include:

• hosting at the Orlando Wetlands Park Education Center

• interpreting nature at the wetlands, including tram tours

• developing educational materials for park visitors

• maintaining the Education Center and its adjacent wildlife garden

• conducting research on wetlands flora and fauna

• assisting at special events such as the annual Orlando Wetlands Festival

FOW meets several times a year to coordinate volunteer activities as well as to enjoy the park. To volunteer or request additional information, please contact us at: http://orlandowetlands.org/contact.php. Thank you for your interest on the Friends of the Wetlands (FOW) and the Orlando Wetlands Park.

February 27, 2013 – Mary Keim

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Orlando Wetlands Park Festival

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Jutta

Come and enjoy the Orlando Wetlands Festival on Saturday, February 16, 2013, from 9am-3pm at Fort Christmas Park. The Orlando Wetlands Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the Orlando Wetlands Park, the City’s 1,650 acre wetland oasis. The event is sponsored by: City of Orlando, Orange Audubon Society, Atkins, and Orange County Parks and Recreation.

Event co-sponsor, Orange Audubon Society, will lead guided bird-watching excursions. The Florida Native Plant Society will lead native plant identification hikes; while, the Florida Trail Association will be providing wilderness hikes. Guided photo hikes will also be available and led by professional nature and wildlife photographers.

For those who like to sit and ride, guided bus tours will travel along the wetland berms, giving riders a chance to experience firsthand, Florida’s wild wetlands. Hay rides will also give riders a chance to relax and take in the scenery.

In addition to the numerous guided tours, there will be bird-banding and mist-netting demonstrations as well as live music. Featured in the various wildlife shows, many different live animals will be present such as alligators, snakes, birds and many others. Also, the City’s Families, Parks and Recreation Department will be giving away free backyard trees in celebration of Arbor Day.

There will be many interactive children’s activities (like Out-On-A-Limb kids tree climbing), a bounce house and much, much more! So bring the whole family and invite your friends and neighbors to this fun, free educational festival. Bring your cameras, and prepare for an adventure in the wilderness. Please leave your pets at home; there are wild animals. Food will be available for purchase. Free admission and free door prizes!

Event Website

February 5, 2013 – Tracy Waguespack

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Opening Day

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Jutta

The Orlando Wetlands Park is re-opening for the 2013 year this Friday, February 1st. Each Saturday of the month, the education center will be open and Friends of the Orlando Wetlands volunteers will be available to give tours of the park. The Education Center and the guided tours will be available other days as well. . Please check our schedule on the Friends of the Wetlands website: http://www.orlandowetlands.org/schedule.php

The education center will feature the “All About Birds” theme. Come see outstanding pictures and displays highlighting the birds found in the Wetlands Park. The park is currently hosting beautiful Blue-winged Teals. Two male Vermillion Flycatchers are also in the park daily, frequenting the same area each day.

Male and Female Blue-winged Teal

For any park-goers please also be aware that the 9th Annual Orlando Extreme half marathon, 10k, and 5k will be held at the park on Saturday February 9th. The park will be open for normal visiting, but there will be runners throughout the park for most of the morning hours. For more information on the race go to http://www.epicsportsmarketing.com/events/orlando-xtreme-half-marathon#section.

January 29, 2013 – Tracy Waguespack

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OAS Special Event Photography Workshop by Robert Amoruso

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Jutta

Award winning bird and nature photographer Robert Amoruso is presenting an in-the-field and in-the-classroom Photography Workshop as a Special Fundraiser for Orange Audubon Society on November 10, 2013 at Orlando Wetlands Park (OWP) near Christmas, Florida. Robert, a renowned and well respected photographer and teacher is presenting this workshop to complement the OAS’s Kit and Sidney Chertok Florida Native Nature Photography Contest. If you’ve ever wanted to know how to move your images from ordinary to extraordinary, this is the workshop for you. Robert will cover topics such as composition, visual design and dynamics, understanding light and how it affects your photography and more.

The setting at Orlando Wetlands Park provides opportunities for beautiful sunrise images, so the workshop will get underway at 6:00 a.m. After spending time in the field capturing images, the workshop moves to the OWP education center for a question and answer session, and a slide program to emphasize the topics covered in the field, and a session on what constitutes a winning image from a judge’s perspective. Participants should have a good working knowledge of digital SLR photography.

Information: Robert Amoruso; ramoruso-oas@att.net or 407-808-7417

Registration: Teresa Williams; 407-644-0796

Cost: $40 (members); $50 (non-members)

Class limit: 10 participants. Children aged 12–15 may register, but require parent on site.

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Reptiles and Amphibians on Display at Wetlands

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Jutta

For October and November until the November 15th closure, Orlando Wetlands Park Education Center (EC) (open most Saturdays, check this website for schedule) will have a “Herp” theme. Featured photographs will be herps, that is, amphibians and reptiles, taken by Friends of the Orlando Wetlands members. Live specimens will also be on display.

Visitors quickly become aware of Orlando Wetlands Park largest herp, the American Alligator. If you are a keen-eyed observer, you will see many more of the herp species that reside at Orlando Wetlands Park!

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)	Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)

Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)	Florida Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris)

Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Pleistiodon inexpectatus)	Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)

by Mary Keim, September 2012

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Fall 2012 Beginners’ Bird Watching Class Offered

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Jutta

Orange Audubon Society’s (OAS) very own Bob Sanders will teach a Beginner’s Bird Watching Class (BBWC) this fall. Bob originated OAS’ popular Limited Edition field trips and Birds of Prey ID Classes while serving on the board; he has taught for the Elderhostel/Exploritas program “Beautiful Birds of Central Florida” and is an independent birding guide who has escorted US, Canadian and European visitors to some of Central Florida’s best birding spots.

The class is intended to teach or enhance skills in naming bird species using sight, sound, behavior and other clues. The course includes a classroom session October 20th at Orlando Wetlands Park (with mini-field trip in the park) and 2 field sessions on October 27th and November 3rd; all sessions are 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Field session locales will be announced at the first class. Goals of the course are to increase knowledge and awareness of North American bird species; teach bird ID techniques, basic birding principles, bird habitat and anatomy; discuss birding ethics; and provide binocular basics (OAS ‘loaner’ binoculars available during class) and tips on using field guides and checklists.

Registration is required and class is limited to 20 students. Total cost for all three sessions is $30 for Audubon members, $45 for non-members and $10 for children through age 12 with a registered adult, payable to Orange Audubon Society. Non-members can join when registering and pay $50, which includes BBWC registration (member price $30) plus introductory 3-way annual membership in OAS, National Audubon Society and Audubon Florida ($20 promotional rate). Such new memberships must be paid directly to OAS as described to you when you reserve your space by contacting Teresa: by email or call 407-644-0796. For questions about the class, contact Bob: 407-454-0542.