Field Trip Guidelines: Field trips are open to anyone interested in birding. Non-members are welcome. We recommend comfortable clothing, insect repellent, sunscreen and water or other suitable beverages. Please contact the trip leader to indicate that you plan to attend and to get any information about changes in plan.

The Celery Fields at Sarasota

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Trip leader: Gwen

gwenfraley@comcast.net or 206-659-2677

Meet at 9 a.m. at the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center parking lot picnic tables, 999 Center Road, Sarasota.

The Celery Fields mainly consist of open marshland, shallow ponds, and canals which are edged by oaks, willows, and pines. Birds seen here can include sparrows, Marsh and Sedge wrens, Sora and Virginia rails, Black-necked Stilts, Least Bittern, Limpkin, and Purple Gallinule. Behind the Nature Center is a small observation area with feeders that attract songbirds and seasonal migrants.

Directions to The Celery Fields: From I-75, take exit 210, Fruitville Road. Go east and turn right at the Lakewood Ranch Blvd light, then right at the traffic circle onto Apex Road. Follow Apex Road for 1 mile and make a left onto Palmer Blvd. After 0.3 mile, turn left into parking lot which also has restrooms.

To carpool from the east side of Hernando County, meet at 7:15 a.m. at Sunrise Plaza (Winn-Dixie is there) on the south side of State Road 50, just east of Interstate 75. Check with Gwen about carpooling place and time from the west side of Hernando County.