FLORIDA’S GREAT BIRDING TRAIL BY NIKKI HOFFMAN

Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area

Harbor Hills Country Club is adjacent to Lake Griffin. The area is part of the Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area, known as the jewel of Lake County. It Is one of the most scenic sites along Florida’s Great Birding Trail, a network of more than 500 wildlife viewing sites throughout our state.

Stepping out on my patio this morning, I was greeted by the songs of many birds who make Harbor Hills Country Club their year-round home. Using the free, downloadable app from Cornell University, identification was simple. My morning serenade included contributions from a Northern cardinal, a great crested flycatcher, a fish crow, a Northern mockingbird, a Carolina wren, a mourning dove, an American goldfinch, and a red-bellied woodpecker. The free “Merlin Bird ID” app is on Google Play and the Apple App Store.  It identifies regional birds by photo or sound. Over three million descriptors will help Merlin match your input with the most likely birds. More than 10,000 birds can be identified through their photos, songs, and calls. How fortunate are we to start every morning with nature’s magnificent melodies?

Celebrating flight is something the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are known for. The demonstration squadron performs incredible aerial demonstrations, flying six F-16C Fighting Falcons. Exciting airshows will showcase their power and spectacle at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, on April 11th.  Hundreds of aircraft, including vintage, homebuilt, aerobatic and light sport machines, will be on display. Contact Sharon Mills at Lamers Tour and Travel at sharonmills@golamers.com for more information.