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.

Current

April 2013

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.