Bay County Audubon Society

End-of-the-Year Banquet
2024-05-13 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1608 Baker Court, Panama City, FL, 32401, United States
From left, Noah Vaden (Eagle Scout), Cole Mahler (Eagle Scout), Co-President Lynn Marcoux, Co-President Pam Overmyer, Cathy Vaden, John Mahler (Scoutmaster). 2022 Conservationist of the Year

End-of-the-Year Banquet, potluck dinner, Conservationist of the Year presentation, year in review slide show, installment of 2024-2025 Officers

Laidlaw Preserve birding trip
2024-05-04 08:00 - 17:00
Laidlaw Preserve birding trip with Choctawhatchee Audubon. Neil Lamb leading.

St. George Island migrant birding
2024-04-27 08:00 - 17:00
Picnic lunch on the island.

Earth Day
2024-04-20 08:00 - 17:00
Downtown Panama City.

High Island
2024-04-14 08:00 - 2024-04-18 17:00
April 14-18. Sunday-Thursday. High Island, Texas migration trip. We will bird Audubon & Texas Ornithological Society preserves, Bolivar Peninsula, Anahuac NWR & Sabine Pass. Contact Gail Casteel at gail@baycountyaudubon.org for more information.

Special Presentation by Big Tom Nkwazi, Safari Guide
2024-04-08 18:30 - 20:00 | St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1608 Baker Court, Panama City, FL, 32401, United States

Nature Connection 2024
2024-04-06 15:30 - 20:15
Bay County Audubon Society’s Nature Connection 2024 Program features Safari Guide and Emperor Penguin Expert
Bay County Audubon Society will celebrate its “Nature Connection 2024” Program main event on April 6 at the Holley Center, FSU PC campus. Keynote speaker is safari guide and naturalist Tom Nkwazi, “Big Tom” as he is known in his native country of Botswana, Africa. He is a fully-licensed professional safari guide of more than 15 years. Also scheduled to present is Noah Strycker, who has extensively studied birds and lived with penguins, as his authorship of six books will attest. Both presenters will tell you their personal stories of what they are observing and learning about the current state of nature in our changing world. Big Tom currently guides in the northern part of Botswana, in the Okavango Delta, close to Chobe National Park (home to 100,000 plus elephants) and world-famous Victoria Falls in nearby Zimbabwe. A quick google search (replete with National Geographic videos) will reveal the magic of the Okavango Delta.
Big Tom brings a unique source of knowledge about Wild Africa, offering us a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to learn about the environmental issues facing the shrinking African natural habitat. The iconic image of Africa is perhaps best revealed by the fauna and flora of the Serengeti, host to elephants, lions, wildebeest, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, acacia trees, and exotic birds, to name a few, a migration wonder of the natural world. His message will include discussion of issues with far-reaching consequences, such as: what is happening to the environment across Africa today? What are the threatened species – are rhinos near extinction? Are elephant populations under threat? Is vital habitat being lost? Is there time to fix these situations? How do these events relate to each of us?
We are indeed fortunate to have Noah Strycker back again to present after he headlined our “Nature Connection 2022” Program. At that event Noah delivered a standing-ovation presentation about his around-the-world birding odyssey in 2015 during which he visited 41 countries, all seven continents, identifying a record-setting 6,042 bird species. He hasn’t slowed down much since then, as you will discover at the Program. He has visited the Arctic and Antarctica numerous times, compiling a vast knowledge of these icy regions through these visits and scientific studies.
This time, Noah will update us on his current area of intense nature focus, the status of the Emperor Penguin in Antarctica. See a few of his photos in the above linked article, “Tom’s Story” (& Noah’s Penguin Update). Recent reporting suggests Emperor Penguin populations are suffering serious nesting, thus survival, issues due to accelerating melting sea ice (their chicks only hatch on ice).
In addition to his presentation on Emperor Penguins at the upcoming April 6 event, Noah will again visit many of our local schools for an updated program about penguins and nature. Big Tom will be speaking at local high schools about the African story.
We are all indeed fortunate to have these two naturalists to be here with us to present a treasure trove of nature information about how things are going in the real world of nature. To participate, consider attending and donating through our tickets on sale.
Depending on the type of ticket (level of donation) purchased to attend the April 6 main event, there are several enhancements to the main Program presentations. Please see the Ticket Information after this article which provides those features and their times. These may include a “Meet and Greet” with our two speakers, a catered buffet, string quartet, the North Bay Haven High School Choralaires, and photo exhibits.
To buy or order tickets, or get more information (reserving a table, payment options, etc.) call Brian Dusseault at 850-832-7579, or email him at bdusseault@aol.com (please put Tickets in the subject line). You can also leave a message about tickets on this website at “CONTACT”.
Net proceeds mainly go to the Bay Education Foundation, which funds grants to public school/charter teachers who apply for nature-related classroom projects. Also, part of the proceeds will be directed to a community school where three of Big Tom’s children attend in his hometown of Kazungula, Botswana. Hope to see you on April 6! For more detailed information on the background of the two presenters and features photography while on African Safari and penguins in Antarctica. Click on the sidebar article entitled “Tom’s Story” (& Noah’s Penguin Update) following the “Schedule of Events” above top on the right.
Location
FSU Holley Academic Center
4750 Collegiate Dr.Panama City, FL 32405
Schedule of Events
3:30pm
“Meet and Greet” with “Big Tom” and Noah: Bring your safari questions for Tom and your Arctic tours and expeditions questions for Noah.
4:45pm
Catered buffet, heavy hors d’oeuvres; cash bar.String quartet, photo exhibition. North Bay Haven High School Choralaires
6:30 – 8:15pm
Featured Programwith Noah & “Big Tom”
Tom’s Story
(& Noah’s penguin update)

Ticket Information

Nature Visionary
$1000 and up

Includes reserved table for 8 to attend all events

Nature Builder (can create a table with several more)
$250

Includes 2 reserved seats to attend all events

Nature Patron
$175

Includes 2 unreserved seats to attend all events

Nature Advocate
$65

Includes 1 ticket for Buffet and Featured Program

General Admission
$30

Includes 1 Ticket to the Featured Program

General Admission – Seniors
$25

Includes 1 Ticket to the Featured Program

General Admission – Youth
$10

Includes 1 Ticket to the Featured Program

Proceeds go to Bay Education Foundation & “Big Tom’s”
Community School in Botswana, Africa

Bird Walk
2024-03-23 07:30 - 17:00
Most of you have been to this large park off Hwy 98 at the beach. It has become a major birding area and is very popular with hikers and bikers. We will be walking up Baxley Homestead Trail to the large wetland, about 1.4 miles, but it’s flat all the way and is wheelchair accessible. We will have binoculars available if you need them. Bring hiking shoes, snacks, and drinks. Photographers will find that this is an excellent area to photograph birds including the Vermillion Flycatcher, if he has returned for the fourth year. We are usually finished by 11:00 or so.

Birding and native plant walk
2024-03-16 08:00 - 17:00
Birding and native plant walk at Florida Caverns in Marianna, combined trip with Sweetbay NPS. Ranger Billy Baily leading.

“Zone out” with Birds of Panama, and other alluring denizens of this namesake area.
2024-03-11 18:30 - 20:00 | St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1608 Baker Court, Panama City, FL, 32401, United States
Gail Casteel, presenter

Parker Preserve Work Day
2024-03-09 08:30 - 11:30
Bring water, snacks, and garden tools.

Birding at Majette Park
2024-02-17 08:00 - 10:00 | Majette Park back entrance and parking, 8058 John Pitts Rd, Panama City, FL, 32404, United States
Bird walk at Majette Park, led by Pam Overmyer. Meet at the park at 8:00 a.m. The park is located on John Pitts Rd., off U.S. Hwy 231 near Bayou George. Go past the main park entrance and drive about ¼ mile to the next entrance on the right, where the parking area is. Walking is along paved and dirt paths and over grassy fields, which may be muddy. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing. We should be finished by 11:00 a.m.

“Turtle Watch”: When it’s all hands on deck, with not a second to lose, and everything counts-cooperative involvement as key to hatchling survival.
2024-02-12 18:30 - 20:00 | St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1608 Baker Court, Panama City, FL, 32401, United States
Kennard Watson, presenter

Special Events Coming Soon!
2024-01-10 08:00 - 17:00

Exotic Birds, Flora & other Fauna: Pictures from the Enchanted Isle of Madagascar.
2024-01-08 18:00 - 20:00 | St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1608 Baker Court, Panama City, FL, 32401, United States
Neil Lamb, presenter:
Located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, the world’s fourth largest island is home to five endemic bird families and an amazing selection of lemurs, chameleons, and plants. Neil will share some of the culture, birds, and other wildlife from his 22-day odyssey in October 2023. This is a glimpse at Vangas, Couas, Mesites, and other Malagasy specialties.

Christmas Bird Count
2023-12-16
Christmas Bird Count; organized by Raya Pruner.

Christmas Party
2023-12-11 18:30 - 20:00 | St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1608 Baker Court, Panama City, FL, 32401, United States
Christmas Party, potluck dinner, Dirty Santa Gift exchange, year in review slide show, Christmas music

PCB Conservation Park bird walk
2023-12-09 07:30 - 17:00
PCB Conservation Park bird walk 7:30 a.m. Leader TBA.

Parker Preserve work day
2023-12-02 08:30 - 17:00
Parker Preserve work day 8:30 a.m.; organized by Faith Bell.

Board Meeting
2023-11-27 19:00 - 20:30

Camp Helen Monthly Bird Survey
2023-11-25 06:00 - 10:00 | Camp Helen State Park, 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City beach, Florida, 32413

Econfina Creek trail hike
2023-11-18 08:15 - 17:00
Econfina Creek trail hike from Pitt Spring to Sylvan and Williford Springs. 8:15 a.m. central time at Pitt Spring Rec. Area on Hwy 20. Combined trip with Sweetbay Florida Native Plant Society. Https://sweetbay.fnpschapters.org. Ron Houser leading.

E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center
2023-11-13 18:30 - 20:00 | St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1608 Baker Court, Panama City, FL, 32401, United States
Dalton Allen, presenter, its species protection, evolving mission: public programs & education outreach–it “ant” what you think!

BCAS Monthly Membership Meeting
2023-11-13 18:30 - 20:00

Birding with Noah Stryker in Utah and a quick stop at High Island.
2023-10-09 18:30 - 20:00
Donna Cronwell, presenter
