Florida Young Birders Club Taking Flight

By Jim McGinity, Florida Young Birders/Florida Aviation Conservation

This year, three Audubon chapters (Tampa, Orange County and St. Johns County) decided to join forces to organize and grow this new club for kids.  

Each chapter had begun doing bird walks for kids in their area, but the organizers decided to join forces to create a new, statewide effort to reach young birders wherever they live.  

Following the Black Swamp Bird Observatory model,  the group formed a teen advisory panel that includes members from each club.  The panel has met monthly with the three adult mentors to discuss topics including creating a logo (in process), monthly expert speaker series and joint field trips.  

The club is for kids ages 9 – 17 years of age with an interest in birds.  The goal is to expand the number of chapters around the state and to build membership.  Organizers Jim McGinity, Tampa Audubon Society, Kathy Rigling, Orange Audubon and Kate Milutin, St. Johns County Audubon, each are coordinating monthly outings for young birders in their area.  Each Audubon chapter is sponsoring the local chapters.

It has been rewarding to see the teen birders on the advisory panel assume leadership roles in directing their club.  One stepped up to take the lead on lining up monthly bird researchers/expert birders presenters and a few others are leading the development of the logo design.  It will be exciting to see the club expand around the state and how these young birders enhance their skills and knowledge of Florida birds and avian conservation.  If you are interested in getting involved with the club or would like to support this effort (financially or otherwise), please contact Jim McGinity at:  jmcginity53@gmail.com

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