Peaceful Waters Sanctuary

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026

Location: Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, 11676 Pierson Road, Wellington, FL

Time: 8:00 am to 11:00 am

Join St. Lucie Audubon Society for a bird hike at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary.

Details: Located inside of the Village Park Athletic Complex, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary is a 30-acre wetlands park with 1,500 feet of elevated nature boardwalks and one mile of walking trails. The park provides an excellent opportunity for bird watching and nature photography. Possible species include herons, ducks, shorebirds and warblers.

This will be a walking tour. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water.

Modern restroom facilities are available

Directions: The Sanctuary is located inside the Village Park Athletic Complex. Signage is better if you enter the park from 120th Ave S rather than Pierson Road. Take FL Turnpike S to exit 93 for FL-802/Lake Worth Rd. Follow signs for Wellington via Lake Worth Rd. Turn R onto 120th Ave S. Turn R into the park from 120th Ave S, following the small signs for the wildlife sanctuary. (You can also use I-95 but it is slightly longer and requires more turns.)

Meet at: We will meet in the parking lot by the restroom building for the soccer fields. If you enter the park via 120th Ave S, it will be the first parking lot you come to. It is a large lot; meet at the end closest the restroom and Sanctuary.

Leaders: Doris and Steve Brookens 

For questions, please contact Doris Brookens at cell: 717-576-7876 email: dorisbrookens@gmail.com

There is a 2-step registration process.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE REQUIRED SLAS LIABILITY FORM

Orlando Wetlands

Date: Friday, March 27, 2026

Location: Orlando Wetlands, 25155 Wheeler Rd, Christmas, FL

Time: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm

Join St. Lucie Audubon Society for a bird hike at Orlando Wetlands.

Details: Orlando Wetlands uses aquatic plants to polish already treated wastewater before discharging it into the St. Johns River. The wetland provides excellent habitat for Least and American Bitterns, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Stork and Roseate Spoonbill.

After meeting in the parking lot, near the restrooms, we will walk the half mile Cypress Boardwalk and connecting trails back to the area of the Visitors Center. We will spend some time touring the exhibits at the Visitors Center. Participants are encouraged to pack a lunch which we can eat together at the Visitors Pavilion. After lunch, participants can choose to take a free tram tour of the property. Tours are first come, first served and last 45 - 60 minutes.

This will be a walking tour. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water.

Modern restroom facilities are available

Directions: Take I-95 N to exit 215 for FL 50 W toward Christmas. Proceed 10 miles and turn right onto Fort Christmas Rd, turn right onto Wheeler Rd and left into the parking lot.

Bring: Binoculars, camera, water and a packed lunch

Leaders: Doris and Steve Brookens 

For questions, please contact Doris Brookens at cell: 717-576-7876 email: dorisbrookens@gmail.com

There is a 2-step registration process.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE REQUIRED SLAS LIABILITY FORM

Jonathan Dickinson State Park Sampler

Join in our quest for habitat specific species such as Bachman's

Sparrow, Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Florida Scrub Jay.

Date and time:

Saturday, March 29 · 8 - 11am EDT

Location: Jonathan Dickinson State Park

16450 Southeast Federal Highway Hobe Sound, FL 33455

About this event

LEADERS: Doris and Steve Brookens will lead this trip along with Christian Testorf, Audubon Florida Conservation Leadership Initiative Intern. Christian did field work with Bachman's Sparrows at Jonathan Dickinson last summer, and he will share his experiences with us during the hike.

FEE: There is a $6 fee per car to enter the Park.

TIME: The Park gate opens at 8:00AM. Please arrive as close to 8:00 as possible. It will take about 10 minutes to drive to the meeting location in the park. We hope to gather by 8:15 and be on the trail by 8:30 at the latest.

MEETING LOCATION:

We will meet in the parking area at the Eagleview Equestrian Area. (See photo above.) This area is located on the main Park Drive about 3 miles inside the entrance gate. It will be on your right side and is after you have crossed the train tracks. A restroom is available.

ITINERARY:

We plan to bird at 3 locations in the park. We will begin with a 1 mile round trip walk at the Eagleview Equestrian Area. Red-cockaded Woodpecker nest in trees in this area. The birds leave the trees at sunrise, but we will attempt to locate some that have stayed in the vicinity to forage. Singing Bachman's Sparrows are likely in this area. Next, we will caravan our cars to the Kitching Creek Pavilion Area, near the Visitor's Center. This is a good location for multiple species of woodpeckers and for Pine Warblers. We'll take a leisurely short walk around this area. Restrooms are available here. Finally, we will caravan to the Center Paved Trail where we will look for FL Scrub-Jays. This will also be a round-trip walk of less than 1 mile.

QUESTIONS:

Contact Doris Brookens at 717-576-7876 or

dorisbrookens@gmail.com.

St. Lucie Audubon Society Members Only Tour

Join us for an exclusive St. Lucie Audubon Society cruise with River Lilly Cruises.   Bring a bag lunchand we can all have lunch after the cruise at River Park Marina...or...we can see if anyone is interested in going to a local restaurant for lunch together.   Space is limited so reserve your spot as soon as possible. 

River Lilly Cruise ~ (Cost $30 per person)

https://riverlillycruises.com/index.html#/ 

Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025

Payments:  Use the link on our Website below or if you wish to pay by check, please include your name, address, phone number and email address. Mail to St. Lucie Audubon Society, P.O. Box 12474, Fort Pierce, FL 34979.

TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD CLICK HERE

Time: 10:00 AM (90-minute St. Lucie Audubon Society Exclusive Member Tour)  Please arrive onboard by 9:45 AM

Meeting Location: River Park Marina, Prima Vista Blvd.
Tip: Enter "River Park Marina" in your GPS or navigation system for accurate directions.

About the Boat:
The River Lilly is a 36-foot Trident pontoon boat with a covered canopy. Seating is bench-style, with padded seats and backs arranged in front and behind an aisle running down the middle.

Recommended Attire:
Dress as you would for outdoor dining at a casual restaurant. Comfortable footwear such as sneakers, sandals, or flip-flops is recommended. Avoid heels or stilettos, as the dock's slats may pose a challenge.

What to Bring:

•         Binoculars

•         Cameras

•         Bottled water

•         Small coolers that fit under your seat (no glass bottles, please)

Additional Notes:

•         There is no restroom on the boat, but facilities are available at River Park Marina.

•         Be prepared to relax and enjoy a beautiful morning on the water!

Wellington Environmental Preserve

Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025

Location: Wellington Environmental Preserve

Time: 8:00 am to approximately 11:00 am

Leaders: Doris and Steve Brookens 

Directions: The Preserve is located at 3491 Flying Cow Ranch Road, Wellington. If traveling via the FL Turnpike from the north, use exit 97 to turn right onto US 98, Southern Blvd. Turn left onto Flying Cow Rd and proceed 3.5 miles.  The Preserve is roughly 65 miles south of St. Lucie West. Please allow adequate travel time.

Details: The Wellington Environmental Preserve in Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat is a rainwater storage area with lovely walking trails. Join Doris and Steve Brookens as we explore the network of paved paths and boardwalks.

We will meet at the first parking lot where restrooms are located. Doris and Steve will guide us to the tower along a 3 mile loop. Expected species include ducks, wading birds and passerines.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, snacks, binoculars and cameras.

For questions, please contact Doris Brookens at 717-576-7876 or stlucieaudubonfieldtrips@gmail.com

There is a 2-step registration process.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

ALSO CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE REQUIRED SLAS LIABILITY FORM

Leaders: Doris and Steve Brookens 

Meet at:  Meet at the parking lot of the Publix at St. Johns Plaza, 3275 Garden St. Titusville (Rt 406) at 8:00 am.  We will ask everyone to carpool from there to the Wildlife Refuge. The fewer cars we take on the wildlife drive, the easier it is to keep the group together and not block traffic.

Directions:  I-95 N to exit 220 (Rt. 406). Publix is ¼ mile on right. Merritt Island NWR is roughly 100 miles north of St. Lucie West. Please allow adequate travel time.

Details: After meeting at Publix, we will proceed to Black Point Wildlife Drive. There is a $10 fee per vehicle to enter Black Point Wildlife Drive. (America the Beautiful National Park Passes and Federal Duck Stamps are valid for admission.)

Typically wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl are abundant in January. Recent eBird reports show Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon and Hooded Merganser are wintering there.

We will likely spend 3 hours on the wildlife drive. Afterwards, we will stop at the Visitor’s Center where we can eat lunch at the picnic tables. Painted Buntings are usually frequent visitors to the feeders there. Please bring a packed lunch.

Bring your snacks, lunch, water, bins, scopes and cameras for a fun day. Toilet facilities are available at Publix, the mid-point of the Wildlife Drive, and Merritt Island Visitor’s Center.

For questions please contact Doris Brookens at 717-576-7876 or dorisbrookens@gmail.com

There is a 2-step registration process.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP  

ALSO CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE REQUIRED SLAS LIABILITY FORM