SCBWF Weekend (Trip D) - Sebastian Inlet and Pelican Island NWR

Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival Weekend
A group of local trip leaders, tour guides, and industry vendors are planning the return of the SCBWF in 2024. As a 'warm up' to the festival's return the foundational group is conducting a birding weekend to showcase the immense diversity of bird species found in our area. The weekend will include trips from 19-23 January. Space Coast Audubon is providing support through promotion, hosting, and field trip leader involvement.

TRIP D : Sebastian Inlet SP and Pelican Island NWR (Two Part Trip)
Trip Leader: David Simpson, Birding with David Simpson

Part One: Meet at 0700
Meet at Sebastian Inlet State Park on the north side (Brevard County side) under the bridge. The group will bird for a while around the Sebastian Inlet State Park, then travel by car to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Fee Location: Entrance to Sebastian Inlet State Park requires a fee. State Park entrance fee must be paid upon entry or in advance online. Florida State Park annual pass enter for free. For rates please visit: https://www.floridastateparks.org/index.php/fees

Part Two: Scheduled meeting time is 9:30am
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located at: 4055 Wildlife Way Vero Beach, FL 32963-9446 (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican-island). Updated meeting location: Welcome Center parking lot (next to the bathrooms) on Jungle Trail.

****UPDATE - Second tram is repaired ****
The second tram is back in service, so the logistics have changed. The entire group will travel on 2 trams for a 1.5-2 hour tour. The Pelican Island NWR volunteers will provide some history of the refuge while traveling to the birding locations. The trams will stop at 3 informational kiosks, the boardwalk and at Joe's Overlook. Round trip time is expected to be approximately 2 hours.

Target birds: Inlet: Lots of coastal species, shorebirds, gulls, skimmers, Reddish Egrets often seen. Pelican Island NWR has a good variety of ducks, songbirds, and wading birds most winters.

What to Bring: Water, snack, bug repellent, sunscreen, binoculars (and your current Florida State Park pass, if you have one).
Limited mobility guests are welcome to stay on the tram at each stop.

For specific questions about the field trip (outside of registration process), please contact David Simpson (simpsondavid@mac.com) or text him at 321.720.5516. For Meetup questions, email our team at: info@spacecoastaudubon.org.