Sarasota Audubon | Sarasota, Florida

Wingspan, Wednesday Afternoon - *MEMBERS ONLY EVENT
2026-04-15 12:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
Learn about birds and their habitats, food, nests, etc. while playing a competitive game. Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. Players spend food resources to add birds, which are represented by 170 individually illustrated cards, to the forest, prairie, and wetland habitats on their player boards. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up.
Click here to RSVP to Lynn

Guided Walks - North Longboat Key/Leffis Key
2026-04-15 08:00 - 11:00 | Leffis Key
Stu Wilson (512-897-8341) and Cathy Paris will meet you at the entrance to Broadway Beach; 7001 Seabreeze Ave. (West end of Broadway St. @ north end of LBK) then the group will go to Leffis Key at the south end of Bradenton Beach on Gulf Drive South.
First, we will look for migratory shorebirds on the beach and then migrant warblers, vireos, etc. at Leffis Key. Beach sand walking and sand paths/boardwalks; mainly in the sun.
Restrooms are located just south of Leffis Key at boat launch, also at Coquina Beach across the street.

Broadway Beach & Leffis Key
2026-04-15 08:00 - 11:00 | Broadway Beach on Longboat Key, 100 Broadway Street, Longboat Key, FL, 34228, United States
“First migratory shorebirds and then migrant warblers, vireos, etc. at Leffis Key. Beach sand walking and sand paths/boardwalks; mainly sun. Restrooms at Coquina Beach across the street from Leffis Key.”

Bird Trivia Fun - *MEMBERS ONLY
2026-04-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
Test your bird knowledge with trivia questions and fellowship.

Return to the Sky - Bald Eagle Reintroduction
2026-04-13 19:00 - 20:30
Tina Morris, Ornithologist, regales us with Return to the Sky – Bald Eagle Reintroduction. In the spring of 1975, on the eve of the US Bicentennial, Tina was selected to reintroduce Bald Eagles into New York State in the hope that the species could eventually repopulate eastern North America. This presentation is based on her 2024 book Return to the Sky: The Surprising Story of How One Woman and Seven Eaglets Helped Restore the Bald Eagle.

Second Monday Celery Field Walk
2026-04-13 08:00 - 10:00 | Raymond Road Boardwalk, 1550 Raymond Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240, United States
Explore the Raymond Road boardwalk and surrounding wetlands.

Birding 201
2026-04-11 15:30 - 17:00 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
Intermediate Birding, 1.5 hours – SAS Nature Center and garden. This more advanced course is designed for birders seeking to enhance their skills. It builds upon the knowledge gained in Birding 101.

Advanced Nature Journaling with Jenny Cherry
2026-04-11 11:00 - 13:00 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
For this Advanced art class, Jenny will show how to draw a Purple Martin, especially since we have a large nesting box (like a hotel for Martins!) at the SAS Nature Center. Jenny will discuss Purple Martins and why we have the nesting boxes on site in the first place. We may even have the opportunity to see the birds for inspiration during class! Jenny will teach how to draw 2-3 additional birds as well as a variety of Florida animals as time allows.
A nature journal is a lens that focuses your attention, enriches your experiences, and develops your skills as a naturalist. This practice also enhances your observations, curiosity, and joy. Nature Journaling can consist of field notes, field sketches, observations, thoughts, feelings, or anything that captures your curiosity.
Jenny Cherry was a featured artist at the Nature Center in May 2023. She is a graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design and an avid illustrator of portraits and landscapes.
Registration Required CLICK HERE

Wingspan, Oceana Edition - Experienced only - *MEMBERS ONLY
2026-04-09 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-02 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-03-26 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-03-19 18:00 - 20:30 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up.
Click here to RSVP to Stacy

Old Miakka Preserve with Stu Wilson
2026-04-08 08:00 - 10:00 | Old Miakka Preserve, Fruitville Rd & Myakka Rd, Sarasota, FL, 34240, United States
“Look for flyovers, migrants, and woodpeckers. 2 mile loop walk, mainly in the sun and sandy trail. 2 mile loop walk, mainly in the sun and sandy trail. No restrooms.”

Carefree Learner - April 6, 2026
2026-04-06 11:15 - 13:15 | Marina Jack Boat Docks, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Boat tours to Roberts Bay Rookery inVenice on the Carefree Learner. See hundreds of nesting herons, egrets, spoonbills and more.
The boat is docked near downtown Sarasota, south of Marina Jack’s restaurant. Take Ringling Blvd., off 41/Tamiami Trail, toward the water and into the parking lot. Our boat, the Carefree Learner, is docked next to La Barge, the big boat with mermaids and palm trees. This is near O’Leary’s Tiki Bar and Grill. There is a public restroom next to O’Leary’s. There are no facilities on the boat!
Reservations are required for this event. Please click here to register.

First Saturday Celery Field Walk
2026-04-04 09:00 - 11:00 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
Explore birds throughout the Celery Fields with Sarasota County Naturalist Kylie Wilson email or cell phone 941-724-9629.

First Thursday Celery Field Walk
2026-04-02 09:00 - 10:30 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
Explore birds in our native gardens and Palmer Road boardwalk

Wingspan, The Game - Beginners Welcome - *MEMBERS ONLY
2026-04-01 12:30 - 15:30

Duette Preserve with Forrest Rowland - *MEMBERS ONLY
2026-04-01 07:30 - 11:30 | Duette Bear Bay, Bear Bay Road, Myakka City, FL, 34251, United States
The “Early Bird” walk will return to the gate to join this walk. Participants interested in starting later will go for a few short walks from the parking area in search of the Florida subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrow, habitat specialist Bachman’s Sparrow, and hope for perhaps running into other rarities like Vesper, White-throated, or White-crowned Sparrows. Pine specialists such as Brown-headed Nuthatch reside here, as do scarcer Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, and many other fun birds. The open habitats today offer good photo ops, as well.

Note there is an “Early Bird” optional tour that begins at 6:15am.
There is no fee to visit the park, nor is there infrastructure beyond dirt roads (translated: No Restrooms).
This is a Members Only Event – Registration HERE is required.

Duette Preserve with Forrest Rowland - Early Birds *MEMBERS ONLY
2026-04-01 06:00 - 11:30 | Duette Bear Bay, Bear Bay Road, Myakka City, FL, 34251, United States
For those early risers interesting in trying for Chuck-will’s-widow & Eastern Whip-poor-will, now’s your chance! We will meet early at the Bear Bay Road Entrance to Duette Preserve, to search these out, as well as Barred Owl.

We will reconvene with participants interested in only the diurnal species back at the entrance, and go for a few short walks from the parking area in search of the florida subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrow, habitat specialist Bachman’s Sparrow, and hope for perhaps running into other rarities like Vesper, White-throated, or White-crowned Sparrows. Pine specialists such as Brown-headed Nuthatch reside here, as do scarcer Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, and many other fun birds. The open habitats today offer good photo ops, as well.

There is no fee to visit the park, nor is there infrastructure beyond dirt roads (translated: No Restrooms).
This is a Members Only Event – Registration HERE is required.

Evolution of Birds & Taxonomy
2026-03-28 15:30 - 17:00 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
Learn about the early ancestors of birds, how geology both prehistoric and contemporary has affected bird evolution, and come full circle to today’s accepted Taxonomy with a nod to the research and techniques that have brought us to this understanding.
Register Here

Beginning Nature Journaling with Jenny Cherry
2026-03-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
A nature journal is a lens that focuses your attention, enriches your experiences, and develops your skills as a naturalist. This practice also enhances your observations, curiosity, and joy. Nature Journaling can consist of field notes, field sketches, observations, thoughts, feelings, or anything that captures your curiosity.
For this Beginner’s art class, Jenny will review the basics, starting with leaf and floral patterns, names of leaf and petal shapes, how to draw them and then use her favorite media, Watercolor, to show students how to make basic brushstrokes of what we drew. Jenny will also provide interesting information on the leaf and flower choices.
Jenny Cherry was a featured artist at the Nature Center in May 2023. She is a graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design and an avid illustrator of portraits and landscapes.
Registration Required CLICK HERE

Fourth Saturday Celery Field Walk
2026-03-28 09:00 - 11:00 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240

Jean Blackburn's Gardens and Feeders - *MEMBERS ONLY
2026-03-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Jean Blackburn’s Garden, 700 Myakka Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240, United States
A renowned local artist, Jean has developed a bird and butterfly friendly yard with many fruit trees over the past 35 years. In addition, she has hundreds of native plants on her 14 acre property. Walk the property and see the busy feeders. Mainly shade. Restroom available.
This is a Member’s Only Event – Limited to 20 participants.
Register HERE

Oscar Scherer State Park Fourth Thursday Birdwalk
2026-03-26 08:30 - 10:00 | Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 S Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL, 34229, United States
Strive to find the endangered Florida Scrub Jay and other resident birds. 1.5 mile walk on sandy trails – mainly in the sun.

Birds & Brews
2026-03-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Big Top Brewing, 3045 Fruitville Commons Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34240, United States
Join us at Big Top Brewery for a fun evening talking birds over local brews.

Carefree Learner - March 24, 2026
2026-03-24 11:15 - 13:15 | Marina Jack Boat Docks, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States

Butterflies of the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center
2026-03-21 09:00 - 10:30 | Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 999 Center Road, Sarasota, FL, 34240
A Beginner’s Guide to Butterflies, 1.5 hours – SAS Nature Center and Native Gardens.
This comprehensive course covers

SAS Plants-Nectar and Host
Butterflies they attract
Life Stages of Butterflies
Mating and Reproduction
Annual cycle and survival
Attracting butterflies to your garden
Tips for Breeding with a cage/hutch
Citizen Science Contributions

Learn how native plants host these remarkable creatures.
Cost $10 members, $20 non-members. Registration Required

Shorebird ID with Forrest Rowland
2026-03-21 08:00 - 10:00 | Siesta Key Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key, FL, 34231, United States
We will walk the beach taking time to learn Shorebird Identification, giving some time for Gulls and Terns as we work through the birds present. Not only will we discuss finer points of identifcation, but we will include some pointers on shorebird photography.
Participants are encouraged to bring Field Guides or Field Guide Apps on their personal devices.

Myakka Bridge and Crowley Nature Center
2026-03-20 07:30 - 10:00 | Crowley Nature Center, 16405 Myakka Rd, Sarasota, FL, 34240, United States
“After using the spotting scope at the bridge, we will go to Crowley Nature Center to find resident red headed woodpeckers, bluebirds, and loggerhead shrikes. 1.5 mile walk in woods and dirt road. Restrooms at Crowley.”

Oscar Scherer State Park Third Thursday Birdwalk
2026-03-19 08:30 - 10:00 | Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 S Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL, 34229, United States
