What’s Happening
Sat., May 28, 2022 at 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Where Birds Can Be Birds – The Remarkable Refuges of Tampa Bay Film Screening
- 1101 Country Club Way S, St Petersburg, FL
- $3 entrance fee is required at the Visitor Center
- Hours of Event: 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Public: Anyone can attend
Join the Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges for the first ever public showings of our new short film, Where Birds Can Be Birds – The Remarkable Refuges of Tampa Bay. This is the story of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges.
- Come out to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Visitor Center on Saturday, May 28th.
- View the film, take a walk or a tram tour, and visit the Boyd Hill raptors.
- Showings are at 1030 am and 130 pm.
- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is located at 1101 Country Club Way S, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The film was created by Jenn Brown of IntoNature films, and funded by the Friends group.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season begins
Please take the following steps to help out Sea Turtles at this time of year.
Ales and Wild Tales Talks
Join us later this year when we resume our talks on the 2nd Wednesday @ 6 pm @ The Ale and the Witch, 111 2nd Ave NE, St Petersburg in the courtyard.
April’s Ales and Wild Tales Talk featured – Diamondback Terrapin Program
Speaker: Biologist and educator George L. Heinrich (Heinrich Ecological Services and Florida Turtle Conservation Trust) and attorney Elise Bennett (Center for Biological Diversity)
George introduced our audience to Florida’s dazzling diamondback terrapins. He told us about the fascinating lives of the world’s only entirely estuarine turtle and the threats they face — from being ensnared in crab traps to losing habitat to climate change and sea-level rise. Elise will highlight some new and improved protections that Florida terrapins gained this year and let you know how we can work together to ensure a bright future for these amazing turtles.
Join us later this year when we resume our talks on the 2nd Wednesday @ 6 pm @ The Ale and the Witch, 111 2nd Ave NE, St Petersburg in the courtyard. (Map)
The event takes place outdoors. Masks, vaccinations and social distancing are welcome but not required.
Closings or Cancellations of Talks, Field Trips, and Volunteer Opportunities
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has closed the Guardhouse to visitation until further notice. Reopening the Guardhouse to be determined.
- All planned events are cancelled until further notice.
- We will update you on upcoming events depending on the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
Board Meetings
- Board/planning meetings are held the 2nd Monday of each month and are conducted via Zoom.
Spring Field Trip
Recently our Friends members ventured to Three Sisters Springs in the Crystal River National Refuge complex.
Three Sisters Springs, a unit of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR), is the gem of the Nature Coast. Visitors to the refuge can enjoy wildlife viewing, hiking trails, and bicycling when visiting this beautiful refuge. The boardwalk has viewing platforms to observe the springs and native wildlife. There are also nature trails that offer views of Magnolia Springs, Lake Crystal, and the wetlands. Three Sisters Springs is a world-renowned winter sanctuary for the West Indian Manatee. Over 100 different native and migratory bird species use the refuge year-round.
For more information, go to Three Sisters Springs.