SEVAS EVENTS

Connection is What We’re All About

SEVAS lives out its mission to protect birds and their habitat by providing a diverse selection of field trips, programs and projects for all. These opportunities to learn more about our unique wildlife, environment, and conservation are wonderful for families and friends. Our regularly scheduled trips are led by knowledgeable volunteers who know the area, the best birding spots and are eager to teach. We encourage everyone, with of all levels of expertise.

Education and advocacy are also part of our mission at SEVAS. Our monthly meetings are presented by savvy speakers about important topics that increase our understanding of current issues related to birds and the environment.

Scroll down for Community Science Events, Weekly Bird Walks, Feld Trips and more…

THIS MONTH

SEVAS Speaker Series

Second Thursday of the month at the Marine Discovery Center, 520 Barracuda Blvd, New Smyrna Beach. Meetings start at 7pm with updates and light refreshments. Our Monthly SEVAS Speaker Series features savvy presentations with specialists, advocates, researchers, authors, and more, about important topics to increase our understanding of environmental issues related our local habitats, wildlife, and our world. Join us October - April. ppssst…the Barracuda Bridge is OPEN! Meeting attendance is free and the public is welcome. Please bring a friend.

  • MARCH 13 7PM What’s all the buzz about native plants? Come find pout at the Native Plants for Birds and People Too Panel!
    Four speakers will join us: Susan Dayer, SEVAS Plant for Birds Chairman; Karen Walter, Florida Native Plant Society, Pawpaw Chapter President; Katie Tripp, Owner of Natural Beauty Native Florida Landscapes LLC; and Danny Young, Owner of Young Bear Environmental Consulting. They will speak about all things native: resilience, habitat, our Plants 4 Birds program, common and not so common varieties, where to find natives, and why are they critical to birds and people.

Community Science Events

SEVAS members participate in various counts and community science projects through the year. Join a team--everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary.

  • Dec 28: SEVAS Christmas Bird Count, (CBC) Since 1900, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, rain, or sunshine to collect data used to assess populations, and guide conservation action.

  • February 7– 13: Florida Shorebird Alliance Winter Shorebird Survey, (WSS) The FSA is a statewide network of local partnerships committed to advancing shorebird and seabird conservation. The Winter survey helps to identify key wintering sites to guide future conservation efforts, and recognize long term trends in population and distribution.

  • Feb 14 - 17: Audubon Great Backyard Bird Count, Join us for the GBBC when the world comes together for the love of birds. Since 1998, this worldwide event gets birders to count as many birds as they can find in their favorite areas, to help expand our understanding of birds. Count for as little as 15 minutes in your own backyard to help expand our understanding of birds.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walks

Experienced SEVAS birders lead these walks for both beginning and avid birders. Walks are free* and open to the public. Each site offers different birds and a chance to visit a variety of natural areas. Meet at 8am for these 2 hour walks. Dress for the weather, (February temps can be warm to COLD, often during the same morning!) and bring optics, a snack, sunscreen, water, bug spray, etc. Check the SEVAS Facebook page or our MeetUp for updates.
*some sites have entry fees, most do not.

  • MARCH 4: NO TUESDAY MORNING BIRD WALK See you next week!

  • MARCH 11: Riverbreeze Park 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill. Trails for passerines, the wharf for dolphins, manatees, and shorebirds!

  • MARCH 18: Port Orange Causeway Park (under the Dunlawton Bridge) 93 Dunlawton Ave, Port Orange. Located on the Halifax River with nice fishing piers and wildlife viewing at it's finest.

  • MARCH 25: Canaveral National Seashore Turtle Mound Trail.
    New Smyrna Beach (Nat’l Park fees apply). Sign up on MeetUp HERE

Birds & Brews

Third Monday of each month. B&B walks provide a happy end-of-day birding jaunt and a social at a local pub or restaurant. We bird different sites, and enjoy time to relax, laugh, and connect. Adult beverages optional.

  • MARCH 24, 430PM: Birding starts at Riverside Park in New Smyrna Beach, then brews and banter will continue at the General Public House, 501 Canal St. NSB. Park/Meet in front of the Brannon Center.

Friday Fun Day

MARCH 7: BIO BLITZ COMMUNITY SCIENCE EVENT
7a-12pm at the Marine Discovery Center, NSB
Come, walk, search, find, identify, add each species to a biodiversity list. Stay as long as you like!

Field Trips

Field trips are longer outings to further out areas. Overnights will have additional costs. We usually meet locally to carpool. Dress for the weather, and bring a snack, water, bug spray, etc. Check Facebook or MeetUp for updates.

  • MARCH 15: Viera Wetlands included in the East Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail, the constructed wetland system polishes reclaimed water for irrigation or overflow into the adjacent Four-mile Canal. The treatment wetlands consist of 200 acres divided into four cells of approximately 35 acres each, plus a central lake. The cells were designed to maintain differing depths of water, reflecting diverse wetland conditions. Meet at the SR44 Walmart parking lot to carpool. Bring a lunch, plan to return to NSB mid-afternoon.

  • April 2025: SOUTH FLORIDA OVERNIGHT … details soon!

Plants for Birds and Project Purple Martin

These wonderful projects offer hands-on opportunities to provide sustainable habitats for our birds, while informing our community about the importance and wonders of urban nature. Click these links for more on how you can become involved as volunteers.

Plants for Birds
Project Purple Martin

Please join us!