Alachua Audubon Society

06/14/2026

Thank you Christine Zamora for leading a bird outing at the Boulware Springs Trailhead! Today we walked the fire break and looped back to the parking lot on the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail. We found 24 species of birds. Some of the highlights include singing Northern Bobwhite, teaching the group how to identify Anhinga in flight, a close view of a Swallow-tailed Kite, and the Red-headed Woodpecker. Some plant highlights were passion vine with fruit and butterfly w**d.

Chris also taught the group how to complete a Birdability Site Review, which helps provide information about trail accessibility. The review is now on the Birdability map under "Boulware Springs Park." See the links below for the review and a blank form. These reviews can be used by anyone when preparing to go to a new birding location.

eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S357387665
Boulware Springs Trailhead review: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vk2OJi6c_nSfa-1vz1EzHijhEfe_6pVnACX0WnwyDs0/edit?usp=sharing
Birdability Site Review checklist (blank):https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fbd78994a599a774a4156dd/t/60fad64627d9a56e8b04a243/1627051590360/Birdability+Site+Review+Checklist_accessible+PDF_2021.pdf

06/09/2026

Great to see ACT putting in the good work!

05/31/2026

Alachua Audubon Society's field trip season is slowing down for the summer! In the last year, we have hosted 111 field trips! We want to thank the many volunteers and participants who make these field trips a success.

Birds & Brews will continue on the first Sunday of the month throughout the summer. Chris Zamora will be leading an AAS outing at the Boulware Springs Trailhead on June 14th at 8:30 a.m. to teach how to scout trails for a birdability site review. Weekend field trips will resume in August. Wednesday Bird Walks at Sweetwater Wetlands Park will resume in September.

While our field trip season is coming to a close for the summer, the 22nd annual June Challenge is just getting started. During June, birders of Alachua County try to see as many bird species as they can in the county in one month. If you want to participate and stay up-to-date on challenge events, email [email protected] One event you won't want to miss is the visit to Watermelon Pond's Metzger Tract for a chance to view the only Burrowing Owls in Alachua County on June 6th at 7 a.m.

Happy birding!

05/29/2026

This news is not unexpected, but it is extremely disappointing. Alachua Audubon Society joins with Audubon Florida and many other conservation-focused groups in expressing disapproval of this decision, and we pledge to continue our commitment to advocating for the conservation of important habitat in Florida and beyond.

The Florida Senate and House have finally come together to approve a budget.

To be frank, the Florida Forever budget allocation is a betrayal of a conservation program supported by the overwhelming majority of Floridians. The final budget includes no funding for Florida Forever, the state’s premier land conservation program responsible for protecting future state parks, state forests, wildlife habitat, and critical water resources. Even worse, the budget sweeps existing Florida Forever funds into the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP).

While Audubon has long supported RFLPP as an important and valuable component of Florida’s broader conservation strategy — protecting working farms and ranches through conservation easements — Florida leaders historically recognized that both programs are essential because they serve different purposes in preserving the lands and waters that define our state. Florida Forever protects irreplaceable natural landscapes from development, while RFLPP helps sustain agricultural lands and rural heritage. One cannot replace the other.

By pitting these programs against each other, the Legislature has broken faith with the people of Florida and abandoned a longstanding bipartisan commitment to balanced conservation. Audubon is deeply alarmed by this outcome, and we thank our members and supporters who made their voices heard throughout budget negotiations.

We will continue working with elected officials, agency leaders, and conservation partners ahead of the next legislative session to ensure Floridians understand what is at stake. Protecting these lands is not only vital to our wildlife and natural heritage, but also to our economy, water quality, resilience, and quality of life for future generations.

Stay tuned! Audubon Florida plans to have further budget breakdowns later in the week.

05/29/2026

The Florida Forest Service could use your help! See the flyer for details on how to volunteer at their BioBlitz at Kerr Lake in Marion County

05/25/2026

Thank you Pete Johnson and Jessica Dyszel for inviting Alachua Audubon to visit Crosby Sanctuary!

Hidden in a suburban develop is a 510-acre cypress swamp and hammock. The entrance has a native plant garden and feeders at the forest edge. As you walk the trails, you'll notice a distinct difference on the left side and the right side due to the presence of beavers! Surprisingly the swamp was not too buggy.
When you reach the fire line, there is a lovely meadow and wetland with many flowers like St John's Wort, Pickerelw**d, White Rose Mallow, Aquatic Milkw**d, Pitted Stripeseed, and Maryland Meadowbeauty.

Yesterday we saw 42 species of bird, including Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-throated Vireo, Swallow-tailed kite, and Mississippi Kite. We also heard Barred Owl, Prothonotary Warbler, and Red-eyed Vireo.

Crosby Sanctuary is a limited access preserve. Open house/work days will resume in the fall on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Parking lot list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S346321211
Trails: https://ebird.org/checklist/S346321223