Indian River Birding and Nature Art Show

The multi-day Indian River Birding and Nature Art Show features local birding tours, lectures, a nature art show with a plein air (open air) paint-out and a sunset pontoon boat cruise on the Indian River Lagoon to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Held in the fall, the weekend gathering is hosted by The Pelican Island Preservation Society and the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach.

Pelican Island is the nation’s first and oldest wildlife refuge, created by executive action in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Establishment of the Pelican Island refuge, intended to protect egrets and other birds from plume hunters, marked the beginning of the National Wildlife Refuge System

The Indian River birding and nature art show is held at the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach. The ELC is actually a 64-acre natural lagoon island preserve with boardwalk and nature trails, native plant garden, air-conditioned classrooms and more.

Sample birding fest activities include a naturalist guided Owl Prowl where participants could see not only see/hear owls but also flying squirrels, frogs and bats. Night-time walks on the ELC grounds for wildlife viewing are also popular.

An early morning walk on the ELC grounds, a prime birding area, takes place before the center is open to the public. A visit to Sebastian Inlet State Park at low tide provides good viewing of gulls, terns and shorebirds in the tidal pool and mud flats in the Indian River Lagoon.

For a complete list of activities, dates and registration information for the Indian River Birding and Nature Art Show, visit the birding fest Facebook page.

Directions: The Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963 is located at the western base of the Wabasso Bridge on the 510 Causeway.

Environmental Learning Center, Vero Beach

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