‍Thank you for supporting our chapter. Please enjoy the latest news and updates from Duval Audubon Society.

‍‍New eBird Hotspot Feature Coming Soon

by James Wheat, Guest Contributor

‍There is exciting news about the partnership between eBird and the Birding Hotspots website that I mentioned in a previous article in the January 2026 Audubon Observer!

When this new eBird feature goes live in April 2026, anyone will be able to make suggestions to the content to keep the data current. Suggestions will be reviewed and uploaded to the site by hotspot editors. Please consider suggesting content for your favorite hotspots, particularly ones that don't have anything in them yet.

Presently, Florida has 6,760 hotspots, of which 1,679 (~25%) have photos, and 1,538 (~23%) have some amount of written content. Habitat and Experience photos can only be added on eBird checklists and the best ones will percolate up to these new hotspot pages.

As you can see, we have a lot of work to do to make the birding hotspot information available to our fellow birders and visitors to Florida. Thank you for your help with this!

Below is a mockup of the upcoming changes to eBird Hotspot pages:

Here's how it will work: click the Submit Content button (circled above) to access a form with the following four sections:

• Plan Your Visit — hours, fees, parking, amenities, and access/accessibility info
• How to Bird Here — local tips on trails, habitats, key species, and timing
• About this Place — site history, conservation context, and the story behind the location
• Hotspot Features — a quick reference with key information to help birders choose locations and plan ahead

One more feature is coming online as well; Hotspot Groups. This is for complex hotspot clusters (think Everglades National Park) so visitation information as well as cumulative bird data will be available for birders on one page. 

Hotspot Groups organize multiple hotspots within a single area —- a park, refuge, or reserve -—under one overview page. Birders will get a map of the whole site, a leaderboard of the most-visited spots, and combined species data across the group. Think of it as a table of contents for complex birding destinations with multiple hotspots.

This is an exciting update and I hope it will bring more birders to Florida, and to better inform birders about what to expect at each hotspot.

‍From Sea Turtles to Songbirds: Coastal Cities Step Up

by Elizabeth Filippelli, VP/Conservation Director

‍Bringing these two conservation efforts together has been an important goal, and the proclamations represent an exciting step forward in connecting coastal wildlife protection efforts. All of the staff of both communities were incredibly warm, welcoming, and helpful. A special thank you to Kevin Hogencamp, Atlantic Beach's interim planner, and to Blake West and Colin Moore in the Parks and Sustainability office at the City of Neptune Beach for their help in coordinating these important proclamations. We are so grateful to everyone helping to build momentum for wildlife-friendly communities across Northeast Florida.

In addition, Mayor Christine Hoffman of Jacksonville Beach has also expressed interest in signing a Lights Out proclamation, showing how quickly momentum is growing. This is just the beginning, so stay tuned - we are on fire!

We really need your help with this exciting conservation effort! If you are interested in working with me to help spread the word about the dangers of bright nighttime lighting and reflective windows to migrating and resident birds alike, and sharing ways we can all help save more birds' lives, please reach out to me at elizabeth.filippelli@duvalaudubon.org. Thank you!

Northern Ecuador with Tropical Birding Tours

by Jessica Dyszel, Field Trips Director

Amid a wonderous world of stunning orchids, beautifully colored bromeliads, and enchanting moss-covered trees shrouded in the cool refreshing mists of clouds in the high elevations of the Andes Mountains flits a colorful dance of tanagers through the canopy while fierce hummingbird battles take place on a miniature scale before your eyes. This is Ecuador where the impressive biodiversity is matched only by the breath-taking mountain views. It is a must-see travel destination for every nature enthusiast. Unique climate conditions of cold air currents traveling up the Andes Mountains mixing with the hot humid rising air of the Amazon Rainforest provide fascinating habitats that have created small niches so specific that many species can only be found in these small pockets. From the hot and humid tropical lowland rainforest to majestic cloud forests and high elevation páramo ecosystems nestled around majestic towering volcanos, Ecuador does not disappoint any nature lover.

‍During my recent travels, I saw ~350 species from the colorful mountain jewel tanagers, cryptic singers of deep understory antpittas, large awe-inspiring toucans, and spirited warriors of the woods hummingbirds. Highlights were the shy Chestnut-Crowned Antpitta, endemic Ecuadorian Antpitta, a mother Giant Antpitta locally named Maria (left) carrying food to her baby, the iconic Sword-Billed Hummingbird, the posh and sassy White-booted Racket-tail Hummingbird, the morning displays of Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, bizarre cave dwelling Oilbirds, majestic roosting Lyre-Tailed Nightjar, and the impressive soaring Andean Condor. We experienced 10 species of the elusive Antpittas, over 50 species of Hummingbirds, 30 species of Tanagers, dozens of woodpeckers and woodcreeper, and several species of Toucan, Toucanets, and Parrots.

‍Most of our time was spent at the Tandayapa Bird Lodge nestled in the heart of the Tandayapa Valley, a stunning area of biodiversity in the Andes. Our mornings were filled with a symphony of bird song, days filled with incredible birding, evenings watching dozens of hummingbirds coming to the feeders, and at night we gathered to enjoy amazing Ecuadorian food while Kinkajou came to feeders outside the windows. We drifted off to sleep to the natural relaxing sound of rain falling through the canopy. It was a peace and quiet that is challenging to find in the hustle and bustle of everyday life at home. Tropical Birding Tours was an amazing company. All logistics, meals, and travel were handled by the company, and our guide José Illanes was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and fun.

‍Challenges we faced included landslides due to travel during the height of rainy season. Our guide and driver were able to navigate around the landslides easily enough and it did not ruin our birding adventures. The primary language is Spanish with locals having little to no English speaking. I planned on using translating apps during the trip but did not anticipate a lack of cell service most of the time. Thankfully rudimentary Spanish skills allowed basic conversation, and our guide was able to translate on our behalf for ordering food and drinks. High altitude can present a challenge to some but drinking plenty of water helps prevent altitude sickness. 

‍All in all, Ecuador was a fantastic trip! We had many a romantic walk/drive through the mountains. Meals were served with fresh juices including fruits only grown in the Amazon. We enjoyed sucking on fresh cocoa seeds, trekking through wonderful mountain paths where hidden flowers delighted us, seeing the stunning colors of butterflies, staring in awe at the breathtaking views, drinking delicious coffee, all while searching for incredible birds, each worthy of its own report. If you are looking for an adventure, Ecuador is a must do. While it is possible to do on your own, I highly recommend Tropical Birding Tours as the logistical planning, mountain driving, navigating around roadblocks like landslides, and the finding of forest birds can present limiting challenges. As always, safe travels and happy birding!

‍Board Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Filippelli

by Johnna Bellen, President

‍Elizabeth first joined our chapter in 2022 when she and then chapter President Carol Bailey-White were working on the ordinance to ban balloon releases at Jacksonville Beach. Since then, she’s been a tireless champion for wildlife, especially migratory birds, and has played a pivotal role in our efforts to end light pollution.

As the Conservation Director and a board member of the Duval Audubon Society, Elizabeth leads key advocacy, outreach, and community engagement initiatives. She also serves as co-lead of the Lights Out Northeast Florida (LONF) program, a critical initiative aimed at reducing the harmful effects of bright nighttime lighting on migratory birds. Through her efforts, the cities of Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach have all signed lighting proclamations to mitigate the high volume of bird fatalities caused by disorienting nighttime light pollution during the spring and fall migrations.

You’ll often find Elizabeth at outreach events, where she engages with homeowners, schools, and local communities—educating them about the dangers of light pollution and offering practical ways to make a difference. Whether she’s sharing her knowledge with children or fellow conservationists, Elizabeth’s approach is always kind, thoughtful, and uplifting.

‍In addition to her work with Duval Audubon, Elizabeth is the Program Coordinator for the Timucuan Parks Foundation, where she collaborates with community members and park partners to foster deeper connections to nature. Blending science, conservation, and creativity, Elizabeth’s engaging presentations introduce the Lights Out Northeast Florida initiative and empower audiences to take meaningful action. When she’s not working on conservation projects, Elizabeth enjoys spending her free time bird watching, traveling, or unwinding with her dog, Puccini.

Bonus Fact: Elizabeth’s spark bird is the hummingbird, a symbol of her boundless energy and enthusiasm for conservation. Stop by any of our outreach events and say hello to Elizabeth! Her passion for the environment and her dedication to making a positive impact are truly inspiring.

‍Crosby Sanctuary Eagle Scout Project Update

by Pete Johnson, Crosby Sanctuary Director

We're pleased to share that Eagle Scout candidate Ty Froehlich's project to build and install four new benches at Crosby Sanctuary is now fully funded! Installation is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Please see our March 2026 newsletter for more details on the project.

Many thanks to all who generously contributed to help bring this wonderful project to fruition!

‍Upcoming Events

There's a lot going on in April! Here's what's coming up:

Events may be added after the publication of this newsletter, so be sure to check our Calendar of Events for the most up-to-date listing of our activities.

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