Florida Birding & Nature Festival

The mission of the Florida Birding & Nature Festival is to promote appreciation and conservation of Florida’s birds, its wildlife and their habitats through responsible nature-based tourism and public awareness.

In the News

Here's how to start bird-watching in Tampa Bay

By Esme Fox
Jul 22, 2023

Tampa Bay Times

Florida Birding and Nature Festival returns to Tampa Bay in October

By Philip Morgan
Jun 27, 2023

83 Degrees

The Secret World of Owls

On CBS Sunday Morning
Jun 25, 2023

David Johnson

Healthy Birds, Healthy Environment

Florida Birding & Nature Festival shows, tells importance of habitat preservation
Oct 4, 2021

Hillsborough County

Dr. Mary Keith Interviewed

Dr. Mary Keith as a guest on the Talking Animals show
Sep 29, 2021

MMNF

Respect for Insects

"A Florida butterfly expert explains his colorful career to the Times"
Sep 26, 2021

Tampa Bay Times

Festival Welcomes Florida Nature Lovers

"Bird professionals offer rare tours of Florida presevation areas in six counties during peak migration"
Sep 22, 2021

Tampa Bay Times

Festival awarded "2020 Mindful Birding Award"

The Mindful Birding Project of the Morrissey Family Foundation
MAR 22, 2020

Mindful Birding

Festival awarded "Certificate of Regional Excellence"

Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council's Future of the Region Awards
APR 26, 2019

The TBRPC

"'A Season on the Wind' Review: Giving Spring a Winged Welcome"

The Wall Street Journal Bookshelf for Subscribers
APR 12, 2019

Kenn Kaufman Book Review

"Off the Maine Coast, Puffins Reveal Secrets of Atlantic Herring and the Ocean: Audubon Society scientist explains why protecting forage fish is key to the ecosystem"

The Pew Charitable Trusts
SEP 17, 2018

Dr. Steve Kress Article

"The Tide: Road-Trip-Worthy Events Around the State"

Flamingo Magazine
AUG 27, 2018

Culture & Travel Article

"Florida Conversations: Florida Birding and Nature Festival Keynote with Jack Davis"

Tampa Bay History Center
AUG 13, 2018

Jack E. Davis talk in partnership with FB&NF

"Ghost orchid: This photographer is trying to capture a never-before-seen photo of the rare flower"

Fort Myers News-Press
JUL 25, 2018

Mac Stone article in the News-Press

"2018 Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award winner Ann Paul"

Hillsborough County
MAY 2, 2018

Announcement and BOCC Meeting Video

"Florida Matters: Birding In Tampa Bay"

WUSF News
APR 17, 2018

WUSF Post and Program Recording

"Florida Matters More Podcast: The Birds of Tampa Bay"

WUSF Public Media
APR 17, 2018

WUSF Podcast

If you wish to Volunteer,

Please email info@fbnfestival.org, or watch for volunteer positions during the 2024 Festival to open.

Our History

2023's Program (PDF)

2022's Program (PDF)

2021's Program (PDF)

2019's Program (PDF)

2018's Program (PDF)

2017's Program (PDF)

2016's Program (PDF)

I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the Birding Festival. The excursions as well as the seminars were very educational. The leaders were generous with their knowledge, and patient with our questions. You did a great job organizing an incredible program. It was well worth our 10 hour trip from Birmingham.

Debbie L.

Having the birds, owls this year was such a nice treat! Great event, very pleased. :-)

Exhibitor

Got my new scope & travel binoculars!! Yeah!

It was better than ever and we like the new location. . . . The participants were all positive and enthusiastic.

John L.Leader & Presenter

I really like the new location and facilities, particularly the layout (everything seemed nice and close). . . . I was pleased to learn that the festival will be held a week later next year.

George H.Presenter

Well organized. Great communication. . . . Tampa Audubon members are very friendly, helpful & encouraging. Enjoyed going places we normally would not see. Knowledgeable leaders. Great keynote speakers. Food good at keynote speaches.

Beginning Birder Participant

I really enjoyed volunteering at the Birding and Nature Festival. Thank you for making the volunteer experience so efficient and enjoyable.

Angela E.Volunteer

Hillsborough river canoe trip on Friday was excellent - good leaders, super abundance of birds sighted.

Participant

I love this festival and look forward to it every year.

Leah Z.Volunteer

Thanks for hosting a great festival! The speakers & seminars I attended were excellent. . . . Field trips were great too - I appreciate the expertise of the leaders & their willingness to help all participants find the birds. . . . Everything was well organized & planned - I'll be back next year!

Advanced Birder Participant

Raptors - great to see live birds.

Beginning Birder Participant

I look forward to helping out again next year.

Jeremy B.Volunteer

Press Releases

Florida Birding and Nature Festival set for October

Sep 29, 2023

Tampa

Our Board of Directors

Ann Paul President ANN PAUL retired in 2020, having worked for Audubon’s Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries since 1991 as the Tampa Bay Regional Coordinator. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Cornell University in New York and Master of Science degree in biology from Trinity University in Texas. She worked for the Texas Nature Conservancy and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation managing conservation lands. She currently is president of the Florida Ornithological Society, the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, and the Tampa Audubon Society. She has been honored by the Hillsborough County Commission with the “Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation” award and by Audubon Florida with the “Guy Bradley Award” in recognition of her lifetime work in avian conservation.

Joseph Guidry Vice President JOE GUIDRY, a Tampa native, is the former editorial page editor of The Tampa Tribune. The environment was a priority throughout Guidry’s 45-year journalism career. During the 1980s, he undertook a “Saving the Bay” series, writing more than 50 editorials on the importance of cleaning and protecting Tampa Bay, advocating for measures such as the Surface Water Management Improvement (SWIM) legislation and the selection of Tampa Bay for the National Estuary Program. He raised alarms over proposals to build a marina and an electric plant on pristine sections of the Bay. Guidry vigorously championed land preservation efforts throughout the years, including the Hillsborough County Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP), Preservation 2000, Florida Forever, and the Florida Land and Water Legacy Amendment. The University of South Florida graduate consistently defended pollution controls and responsible planning and emphasized the economic payoff of resource protection. His writings won numerous journalism awards. He also was honored for the environmental impact of his work. He was chosen as the inaugural recipient of Hillsborough County's Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award given for advocating on behalf of the county's natural resources. Among the other honors are the Hillsborough Chapter of the League of Women Voters' Sydney and Thalia Potter Civic Leadership Award for defense of the environment; the Wilderness Society's national Aldo Leopold Award for Distinguished Editorial Writing; 1,000 Friends of Florida's Al Burt Award for journalism that promoted conservation and responsible growth; and the Terrell Sessums Award for leadership in safeguarding Tampa Bay. The University of South Florida presented Guidry the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016. Guidry has been an active supporter of numerous local non-profit and charitable institutions, including the Boy Scouts, Friends of Hillsborough County Parks and the FBI Tampa Citizens Academy Alumni Association. He serves on the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Advisory Board. He is married to Lenora Lake-Guidry and has an adult son, Timothy Guidry.

Dr. Mary Keith Secretary MARY KEITH has been birding most of her life. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where most weekends were spent in the state parks and woods. She has lived and birded in Florida since 1992. Her degrees have nothing to do with birds (Chemistry and Food Science), but they have supported a life of work around the world where she managed to watch birds as well. She is retired from the University of Florida Extension Service and now has more time to lead bird walks for the Tampa Audubon Society, watch birds, monitor eagle nests and wading bird colonies, and participate in Christmas Bird Counts.

Charles Fisher Treasurer CHARLIE FISHER has been an active birder for almost 15 years, ever since he took on a new client in his CPA practice who introduced him to the joys of bird identification in advance of a family summer beach trip to Sanibel. One trip to the Ding Darling NWR with bins and a field guide was all it took. Charlie got home, registered for the 2003 Florida Nature and Birding Festival, signed up for eBird, threw out his golf clubs and has been off in the field ever since.

Dave Goodwin DAVE GOODWIN has been birding Florida for 54 years and currently has the third highest list total for the state. He has served as president of St. Petersburg Audubon and twice for the Florida Ornithological Society. He is a retired teacher who currently works as an environmental educator at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg and recently as a consultant monitoring nesting crested caracaras in south central Florida. He is currently a member of the FOS Records Committee which evaluates rare bird records for the state. He also leads birding tours to the Dry Tortugas for Florida Nature Tours.

Stanley Kroh STANLEY KROH is the Manager of Land and Stewardship Programs in the Environmental Services Department at Tampa Electric Company. He has been in his current position for 18 years. Among other duties and responsibilities, he manages the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. Prior to that, he worked for the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County. He is active in the local environmental community and serves on the Hillsborough Greenways Committee, the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund TAC and the USF Student Green Energy Fund TAC. He also serves on the Board of Learning Gate Community School, an environmental charter school. Professional accreditations include Registered Environmental Manager (REM), Certified Waste Management Professional (CWMP) and Certified Environmental and Safety Compliance Officer (CESCO).

George Heinrich GEORGE L. HEINRICH is a field biologist and environmental educator with a specialty in Florida reptiles. His company, Heinrich Ecological Services, is based in St. Petersburg, Florida and conducts wildlife surveys and research, natural history programming, and nature-based tours.

Sally Thompson SALLY THOMPSON has lived in Florida most of her life. She has been involved with Tampa Bay issues, including greenways and land protection efforts. She is currently chairing the Hillsborough Greenways Committee, serving on the Hillsborough MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and the Jan K Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection (ELAPP) Selection and General Committees. She is one of the founding members of the Tampa Bay Conservancy, a local land trust. She has a Master of Public Administration degree (MPA) and taught Environmental Resource Management at USF for several years.

Our Staff

Andee Richards

Festival Administrator

ANDEE RICHARDS graduated from the Environmental Science Technology program at Hillsborough Community College. Andee brings a long history of project management, IT support, and professional graphic design to the Festival, and hopes to bolster its growth for many years to come.

Marcus Caselles

Onsite Coordinator

MARCUS CASELLES studied Chemistry at Cal Poly Pomona, and Environmental Science at Hillsborough Community College. He is currently an A licensed Water Treatment Plant Operator with Tampa Bay Water. He really enjoys nature, the outdoors, and helping people.

Vicki Parsons

Social Media Manager

VICKI PARSONS has been the editor of Bay Soundings (www.baysoundings.com) for the past 20 years. She covers news about Tampa Bay and its watershed and takes every opportunity she can to introduce people to the wonderful wildlife that lives here -- and to persuade them to protect the habitat they need to survive.