St. Augustine Fla. Alligator Farm, April 20-22
Details
If you want to get up close and personal with sea birds, there is nothing like the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Bird Rookery. Though there are lots of displays of other birds, reptiles, and mammals, the board walk through the rookery provides amazing shooting opportunities for several species of sea birds in various stages of breeding plumage, nesting, chicks, and fledglings. The Farm is 378 miles from Atlanta, about a 6.5 hour drive. Their regular hours are from 9 AM till 5 PM with daily fees of $21.95 and senior/AAA rates of $19.76. The best shooting opportunities are provided with a Photo Pass for $79.95. The Pass is good for a calender year and allows entrance at 8 AM and after-hours shooting. A Farm employees stays until dusk to allow shooting in great evening light for a "tip" ($10 per person works well). If you drive down Friday morning, you will have time to shoot the Rookery Friday PM, Saturday AM, Saturday PM, and Sunday AM. Other interesting sites in the area include Old St. Augustine, Flagler College, Castillo de San Marcos (old fort), and I'm sure lots more. Access to the birds along the boardwalk is so good that you don't have to have a "monster' lens to get great shots.
The most convenient lodging near the Farm is the Sleep Inn, on Anistasia Blvd. Regular weekend rates are about $110.00 but they feature a Farm Pass rate of $71.95 for either a single king or twin queen room. I was told that you don't have to show your pass to get the rate, just look like a photo geek. There are nicer accommodations nearby, and cheaper rooms at the beach.
I'll send out a followup memo soon with some shooting and gear tips.
You are welcome to email me with questions or call my cell at 770-366-4734.
Jack Martin