Photo Essay: 2013 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival

by Capt. Ben Evans

These photos were taken in Brevard County by Florida SEE board member, Capt. Ben Evans. The camera used was a Canon 5 D Mark III and 100-400 telephoto lens. They were taken during an intensive week in the field at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife festival (the biggest in the nation), during the last week of January.

Some of the photos referenced are on our Facebook page - why not head over there and "LIKE" us?
https://www.facebook.com/FloridaSEE.org

The first group was on the "Birds by Boat" trip to Bird Island (which is actually East Honeymoon Island) rookery. Wildside Tours does these every year for the festival. Jeanette Vasbinder was the Captain and Ben was the Naturalist/Birder. These photos include Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, White Pelicans, gulls and Blackbellied Plover, and spider at the dock.

The dolphin photo, taken by customer Linda Aurichio, was from a previous Bird Island tour. We don't encourage dolphins in our wake so we came off of plane and they stayed away.

The second spot for photos is the Viera Wetlands, where I sometimes do a guided tour after a morning on one of the boats. This trip though was a photography class that I was taking from Robert Amoruso during the birding festival. Spring is early this year; the Great Blue Herons were nesting, the Anhingas were mating and the tree swallows were swarming.

The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge was the site for the Scrub Jay and ducks.

Tosahatchee Wildlife Management area has the picture of birders, including leader Jim Eager on the scope. The nesting Bald Eagle was photographed here.

The Orland Wildlife Refuge supplied the hawk photos.

The Painted Bunting was in my back yard in Cocoa Beach.

Don't forget - click here to see the whole 2013 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival album on Facebook.


Photo Essay: 2013 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival by Capt. Ben Evans These photos were taken in Brevard County by Florida SEE board member, Capt. Ben Evans. The camera used was a Canon 5 D Mark III and 100-400 telephoto lens. They were taken during an intensive week in the field at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife festival (the biggest in the nation), during the last week of January. Some of the photos referenced are on our Facebook page - why not head over there and "LIKE" us? https://www.facebook.com/FloridaSEE.org The first group was on the "Birds by Boat" trip to Bird Island (which is actually East Honeymoon Island) rookery. Wildside Tours does these every year for the festival. Jeanette Vasbinder was the Captain and Ben was the Naturalist/Birder. These photos include Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, White Pelicans, gulls and Blackbellied Plover, and spider at the dock. The dolphin photo, taken by customer Linda Aurichio, was from a previous Bird Island tour. We don't encourage dolphins in our wake so we came off of plane and they stayed away. The second spot for photos is the Viera Wetlands, where I sometimes do a guided tour after a morning on one of the boats. This trip though was a photography class that I was taking from Robert Amoruso during the birding festival. Spring is early this year; the Great Blue Herons were nesting, the Anhingas were mating and the tree swallows were swarming. The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge was the site for the Scrub Jay and ducks. Tosahatchee Wildlife Management area has the picture of birders, including leader Jim Eager on the scope. The nesting Bald Eagle was photographed here. The Orland Wildlife Refuge supplied the hawk photos. The Painted Bunting was in my back yard in Cocoa Beach. Don't forget - click here to see the whole 2013 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival album on Facebook.
The Florida SEE Grapevine - February, 2013