FIELD TRIP CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Leaders: Jeff Graham and Martha Fethe

St Marks is 68,000 acres of woodlands, marshes, ponds and sea shore. It is one of the oldest reserves in the US. This reserve offers spectacular views, hiking, fishing, and a lighthouse.

The plan is to travel on January 15th, stay overnight near St. Mark’s. Please plan ahead and get reservations early. We will meet in the parking lot of the visitors center at 8:00am on January 16th. Once we have signed in, we will begin working the woodlands before making our way out to the mudflats and marshes. This is an excellent location for you to get your start at a big year. Some birds we are going to look for are geese, ducks, shorebirds, sparrows, warblers and blackbirds. Rarities like American Flamingo and Vermillion Flycatcher have been reported there recently. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see some folks get upwards of 100 species on the day.

What to bring? Snacks, lunch, water, sunscreen, binoculars, scope, sturdy shoes and hat. Please check the weather and plan ahead.

Questions? Email duvalaudubon@gmail.com or (day of event) text Martha Fethe: 904-699-8453

COVID-19 NOTE: Masks are not mandatory per the new CDC guidelines, but for the safety of all participants and volunteers, social distancing is still strongly recommended, especially if you are not vaccinated. Please, no sharing of binoculars or scopes. Please do not attend if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or experienced any of the following symptoms within the last 14 days:

• A new fever
• A new cough that is not because of another illness
• A new shortness of breath that is not because of another illness
• A new sore throat that is not because of another illness
• Sore muscles not because of existing illness, or not from exercise or injury
• Diagnosis of an infection
• Exposure to someone known to be infected
• Someone you are closely associated with experiencing any of the above symptoms.
• You are currently experiencing unmanaged seasonal allergy symptoms (e.g., persistent cough, sneezing).