BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Bay County Audubon Society - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Bay County Audubon Society X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://baycountyaudubon.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Bay County Audubon Society REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20230101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240406T153000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240406T201500 DTSTAMP:20260501T135843 CREATED:20240214T152858Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240220T155605Z UID:960-1712417400-1712434500@baycountyaudubon.org SUMMARY:Nature Connection 2024 DESCRIPTION:Bay County Audubon Society’s Nature Connection 2024 Program features Safari Guide and Emperor Penguin Expert\nBay 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. \nBig 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? \nWe 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.  \nThis 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). \nIn 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. \nWe 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. \nDepending 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. \nTo 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”. \nNet 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. \nLocation\nFSU Holley Academic Center\n4750 Collegiate Dr.Panama City\, FL 32405 \nSchedule of Events\n3:30pm\n“Meet and Greet” with “Big Tom” and Noah: Bring your safari questions for Tom and your Arctic tours and expeditions questions for Noah. \n4:45pm\nCatered buffet\, heavy hors d’oeuvres; cash bar.String quartet\, photo exhibition. North Bay Haven High School Choralaires \n6:30 – 8:15pm\nFeatured Programwith Noah & “Big Tom” \nTom’s Story\n(& Noah’s penguin update)\n \n \nTicket Information\n\n\n Nature Visionary\n $1000 and up \n\n Includes reserved table for 8 to attend all events \n \n\n Nature Builder (can create a table with several more)\n $250 \n\n Includes 2 reserved seats to attend all events \n \n\n Nature Patron\n $175 \n\n Includes 2 unreserved seats to attend all events \n \n\n Nature Advocate\n $65 \n\n Includes 1 ticket for Buffet and Featured Program \n \n\n General Admission\n $30 \n\n Includes 1 Ticket to the Featured Program \n \n\n General Admission – Seniors\n $25 \n\n Includes 1 Ticket to the Featured Program \n \n\n General Admission – Youth\n $10 \n\n Includes 1 Ticket to the Featured Program \n \n\nProceeds go to Bay Education Foundation & “Big Tom’s”\nCommunity School in Botswana\, Africa URL:https://baycountyaudubon.org/upcoming-event/nature-connection-2024/ CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://baycountyaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Big-Tom-28.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240408T183000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240408T200000 DTSTAMP:20260501T135843 CREATED:20231107T151301Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240405T205218Z UID:469-1712601000-1712606400@baycountyaudubon.org SUMMARY:Special Presentation by Big Tom Nkwazi\, Safari Guide DESCRIPTION: URL:https://baycountyaudubon.org/upcoming-event/tbd/ LOCATION:St Andrews Episcopal Church Parish Hall\, 1608 Baker Court\, Panama City\, FL\, 32401\, United States CATEGORIES:Programs END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240414T080000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240418T170000 DTSTAMP:20260501T135843 CREATED:20231107T162239Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240217T041439Z UID:513-1713081600-1713459600@baycountyaudubon.org SUMMARY:High Island DESCRIPTION: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. URL:https://baycountyaudubon.org/upcoming-event/high-island/ CATEGORIES:Field Trips ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://baycountyaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/P1040008-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240420T080000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240420T170000 DTSTAMP:20260501T135843 CREATED:20231107T162337Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231107T162337Z UID:515-1713600000-1713632400@baycountyaudubon.org SUMMARY:Earth Day DESCRIPTION:Downtown Panama City. URL:https://baycountyaudubon.org/upcoming-event/earth-day/ CATEGORIES:Field Trips END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240427T080000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240427T170000 DTSTAMP:20260501T135843 CREATED:20231107T162655Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231107T162655Z UID:517-1714204800-1714237200@baycountyaudubon.org SUMMARY:St. George Island migrant birding DESCRIPTION:Picnic lunch on the island. URL:https://baycountyaudubon.org/upcoming-event/st-george-island-migrant-birding/ CATEGORIES:Field Trips END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR