EVENTS: Choctawhatchee Audubon Society home page

All events are free and open to the public!

 

Programs (slide shows, etc.) are held the first Thursday of all months except June, July, and August. People arrive between 6 PM and 7 PM, when the program begins. Programs are held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. CLICK the place (it's a map link). When there, use any parking lot nearby. Walk in the door (NW building corner) under the red map marker. For more information, click our Facebook link. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

 

Bird Walks are usually 2-4 hours on Saturday mornings. Unless otherwise noted, no advance registration is required. For most Bird Walks, binoculars are almost a must, especially to study birds and butterflies. If you have a spotting scope and/or camera, bring them. Don't have binoculars? We may have an extra pair or two to borrow, and your leader will to try to show you several birds through a spotting scope. Many bird identifications are made on sounds and behavior. We will teach you how. Be sure to bring drinking water; you may want to bring snacks too. Bird walks may lead down trails with chiggers and mosquitos, so wear long pants, socks, and water-resistant, closed-toe shoes. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

 

Click here for a PDF summary from the 20 Dec 2025 Christmas Bird Count

 

 

Upcoming events:

 

2026 SEPTEMBER 3, EVENING PRESENTATION: Honeybees of Thailand. Theresa Devine will speak about a University of Florida beekeeping trip to Thailand focused on adult education, studying native apis species, and understanding the spread of pests like tropilaelaps and varroa mites. The presentation will cover Thailand's honeybee species, stingless bee practices and their economic and conservation value, and Dr. Suwannapong's research using propolis to treat Nosema infections. Parasitic threats will be discussed, along with biosecurity protocols followed to prevent bringing pests back to the U.S. The talk closes by connecting these findings to U.S. beekeeping practices and regulation, sharing extension resources, and highlighting the food, culture, and sightseeing from the trip. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 PM. Admission is free and open to the public.

 

2026 SEPTEMBER 19: SATURDAY MORNING bird walk at Veterans Park, leader Jim Anderton (850) 543-2221. We will look for resident species such as Great Blue Heron, along with migrating warblers and other birds that stop here prior to crossing the Gulf for the winter. Meet at 7:30 AM on the north side of the Destin/FWB Convention Center parking lot.

 

2026 SEPTEMBER 26: Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park. Leader: Carol Porch, (256) 293-8785. Volunteers, please contact Carol. Arrive between 8:30 - 9:30 AM to set up. Here is a link to the Florida State Parks event.

 

2026 OCTOBER 3, EVENING PRESENTATION: Topic and speaker TBD. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 PM. Admission is free and open to the public.

 

2026 OCTOBER 10: SATURDAY MORNING bird walk at Navarre Beach Park and Big Sabine Point, leader Jim Anderton (850) 543-2221. Meet at 0730 at the Sandpiper Pavilion at the Navarre Beach Park. We will spend an hour or so looking for shorebirds, rails, and migrant species before convoying over to the Pensacola Beach Park east parking lot for a similar effort at Big Sabine Point. This is a good time of year for Nelson's Sparrow at both of these locations.

 

2026 OCTOBER 24: SATURDAY MORNING bird walk at Okaloosa Holding Ponds, leader TBD. Meet at 7:30 AM in the large dirt 'parking lot' at the left side of Roberts Road, 100 yards N of Task Force Pizza, 1826 Lewis Turner Blvd. We will look for ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds. This 'restricted access' area is one of the best in the panhandle for migrant species.

 

2026 NOVEMBER 5, EVENING PRESENTATION: Arizona 'Sky Islands'. Jill Smith will speak about her experiences birding in the high desert and mountain ranges of southern Arizona. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 PM. Admission is free and open to the public.

 

2026 NOVEMBER 7: Coffee and Birding in Shalimar, leader Carol Porch (256) 293-8785. Join Carol for coffee and birding on Garniers Bayou from 7:30 to 11:00 AM. Group size is limited, please contact Carol to reserve your spot! Please park at Combs Park, 15 Cherokee Rd, Shalimar, and take the crosswalk to Carol's house (123 Gardner Drive). Bring binoculars.

 

2026 NOVEMBER 14: SATURDAY MORNING bird walk at Twin Hills Park in Crestview, leader Doug Adkisson. Details coming soon!

 

2026 NOVEMBER 28: SATURDAY MORNING Destin Shorebirds bird walk, leader Bruce Purdy. Meet in the Destin CVS parking lot at Hwy 98 and Main St, Destin opposite Regions Bank at 7:30 AM. Dress appropriately for the weather, and be prepared to carpool.

 

2026 DECEMBER 3, EVENING PRESENTATION: Topic and speaker TBD. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 PM. Admission is free and open to the public.

 

2026 DECEMBER 5: Audubon Christmas Party on SATURDAY evening from 4 PM TO 8 PM at the Kelly Plantation Owners Club, 303 Kelly Plantation Drive, Destin. Please enter thru the Hwy 98 gate, which will require a valid Driver’s license for all who enter. BYOB, a dish to share and, if you so choose, please bring a ‘birdy’ or nature themed item for our Silent Auction.

 

2026 DECEMBER 12: Birding with Bay County Audubon at Conservation Park. Details coming soon!

 

2026 DECEMBER 12: Work day at Laidlaw Preserve with Bay County Audubon. Details coming soon!

 

2026 DECEMBER 19: 2026 - 2027 Christmas Bird Count. Jim Anderton coordinates our Audubon CBC circle in this worldwide citizen science event. All experience levels welcome! The 15-mile-diameter circle is centered 4 mi N of the Marler (Destin) Bridge over East Pass, and the circle is divided into many sections for the different parties of observers birding in Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, Niceville, Destin, and the smaller towns among them. You can count birds at your backyard feeders, bird within the CBC circle on your own, or we can team you up with a local birder. Contact Jim Anderton (850) 543-2221, jim.anderton.fl@gmail.com to participate. Click here for the 2025 CBC results.