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Daylight Saving Time began the night before, stealing an hour of sleep, but that didn’t stop twenty dedicated women from gathering bright and early at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of Peaceful Waters Sanctuary in Palm Beach County. Our group represented three counties — Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach —and we were especially happy to welcome three women who were joining a Phoebes walk for the very first time. It was a beautiful morning with perfect weather, and the spirit of the group was just as bright.
Our first bird of the day was a Loggerhead Shrike perched on a power line in the parking lot. From there we headed onto the boardwalk, and within the first twenty minutes we had already recorded nearly 30 species. The wetlands were lively with herons, egrets, and Common Gallinules moving through the marsh. Through the fence we spotted an American Wigeon on the back retention pond, along with Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Ducks, and a Solitary Sandpiper. The pond was also full of Egyptian Geese families, with fluffy goslings paddling along behind their parents.
Twenty women joined Phoebes field guide Miriam Avello for a wonderful Saturday morning exploring the shaded trails and hardwood hammocks of Kendall Indian Hammocks Park. This urban oasis once again proved to be an excellent spot for both resident birds and wintering migrants, offering a relaxed but rewarding walk for participants of all experience levels. The cool morning air and dappled light created perfect birding conditions as the group moved slowly along the paths, listening for calls and scanning the canopy.
Squawks filled the air as a small flock of Blue-and-yellow Macaws descended upon a royal palm in my yard. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, but it was rare enough to feel significant – perhaps an avian blessing of the annual Phoebes Birding holiday brunch being hosted in my garden later that day. I watched as the birds feasted on the palm’s newly ripened fruit, their contented squabbling wafting through the yard.
The macaws left before the first women arrived, but I was reminded of the feasting birds as tables filled with picnic delights and sounds of laughter filled the sky. This was always the highlight of the event, but our gathering of nearly 30 eventually settled at one end of the garden for an overview of 2025’s successes and a chance to dream about 2026.
A Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovered above as Ana Lima recounted the year’s XX successful events. The hummingbird continued to zip about as Miriam Avello invited all to join the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts and a January camping trip to Long Pine Key. The hummingbird even stuck around for the brainstorm session, undoubtedly oblivious to the details but perhaps picking up on the group’s enthusiasm at the prospect of adding a birdy book club to the Phoebe’s endeavors.
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, 30 Phoebes trekked through the historical Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables. This was our second annual birding trip coordinated and led by Fairchild Volunteer, Stacey Kaufman. We spotted 45 species of both resident and migrating birds during this two-hour adventure.
At the beginning of our walk down to the lowlands, we listened and spotted two resident Pileated Woodpeckers “drumming” on a telephone pole. This was a first for some of our newest Phoebes, who have never seen a Pileated Woodpecker before! We remarked how prehistoric this bird appears and learned that male and female pileated woodpeckers are pair up and remain monogamous throughout their lives.
Another notable migratory bird species we saw was an estimated 500 Turkey Vultures, which soared overhead as they took advantage of the columns of warm, rising air, also known as “thermals”. They circle within these updrafts, maintaining height and scanning the landscape below with their excellent vision, looking for carrion (dead animals). Other Raptors we saw were Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, and an American Kestrel.
