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Florida Scrub-Jay Trail News
News Archives Back to News Trailday October 22, 2022
Some of the trails have gotten a little spooky and need some attention to keep them passable.

Long-time volunteers David Biega and Susan Holloway have been putting in extra hours cleaning up after Hurricane Ian and clearing out a lot of the downed branches and overgrowth, but there is still much to do. Help us spice up and spruce up The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail to make it even more inviting to all types of visitors this fall. 
Fall typically beckons the Florida Scrub-Jays to gather acorns for the colder winter months when the delicacies of insects, frogs, toads, lizards, grasshoppers and grubs, among others, are not readily available. Parents will teach their young to gather the acorns and “cache” (hide) them either in the sand or sometimes in the bark or crevice of a tree. Each adult jay will cache approximately 6,000 – 8,000 each year. 
 
This is also the time of year that the juveniles will begin to look more and more like their parents in coloration. Enjoy a family hike on the trails and search for one of over 120 birds from our Birders Checklist. 
Trail maintenance on Saturday, October 22, is from 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Bring your water bottle – we will supply plenty of cold water to refill your bottle. Other things to bring to Saturday’s Trailday are gloves, hats, pruning shears, and loppers. We have a limited supply of tools to share, so don’t worry if you don’t have your own.
The North Shore Birding Festival on Lake Apopka is for birders visiting Florida or locals wanting to learn more from well-known, knowledgeable birding guides. Add to your life list while exploring a unique birding hot spot only 35–45 minutes from Orlando attractions.

December 1 - December 5, 2022
The 2022 North Shore Birding Festival includes a field trip to
The Florida Scrub Trail and Clermont Birding Hotspots. 

 
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Florida Scrub-jay Trail and Clermont Birding Hotspots – Some walking (sandy surfaces) Trip 32, Saturday, December 3, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. For more information or to register, click here.
 
$40, bring your own lunch. Leaders: John Thomson (Orange Audubon Society), Bruce Brown and Cathy Brown (Florida Scrub-Jay Trail). Maximum participants: 12.
 
Years ago, Bruce and Cathy Brown discovered some Florida Scrub-Jays using their plant nursery. They founded the Scrub Jay Trail as a place for people to get outside, enjoy nature and to learn about the endangered Florida Scrub ecosystem. Bruce and Cathy will bird with at the Trail. Then we will hit some other birding hotspots in the Clermont area: Country roads south of Mascotte, Lake Hiawatha Park for woodland and marshland birds, and will scope Lake Minneola for diving ducks, grebes and possibly loons. 
 
Possible sightings include Sandhill Crane, Common Ground-Dove, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Meadowlark, Red-headed Woodpecker, Purple Gallinule, Northern Flicker, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Vermillion Flycatcher (seen on past year’s Clermont CBC) and Florida Scrub-Jay. ??????? 

Devoted birders and novices converge on the Florida Scrub-Jay Trailhouse at 5:30 a.m. for a light breakfast, and receive maps of their assigned territory, a section of a fifteen-mile circle surrounding Clermont.

After breakfast and briefings, the teams head out to their assigned territories to document their sightings. At the end of the day, all reconvene at the Florida Scrub-Jay Trail to report their sightings.

All levels of experience are accepted as we pair you with experienced birders. If you can see the birds and can count, you are needed. If you can’t participate in the official count, we encourage parents and children to go outside and experience nature, South Lake County style.

For more information or to register, contact John Thomton, Founder and Organizer of the Clermont Christmas Bird Count, at  john.thomton@gmail.com


Don't fall behind in your support of our efforts - become a Florida Scrub-Jay Trail member or donate. You will be contributing to our cause of protecting the Florida Scrub-Jay from extinction while supporting our children as they explore our great Florida outdoors.
 
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Free guided tours of The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail
are offered the first Saturday of each month
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

 
For further information or to reserve your spot,
please call 352-429-5566 or e-mail info@scrubjaytrail.org.

If you've been wondering what we're all about,
this is a great first step and introduction to our organization.

The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail is open to the public
Saturday through Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.


(Please note: CLOSED for special event on
Saturday, October 29, and Sunday, October 30).


You are always invited to come see this Garden Spot of Lake County.

Physical Address:
11490 Montevista Road, Clermont, FL 34711
 
The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail is a not for profit 501(c) (3) corporation.

 
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