On Sunday, October 12th, 2025, the Phoebes Birding group gathered once again at A.D. Barnes Park in southwest Miami for our fourth annual Big Sit. From our familiar circle overlooking fruiting fig trees, a large pond, and a slice of open sky, the Phoebes tallied an impressive 40 species over the course of the morning.

This year’s highlights included two Belted Kingfishers who made repeated flyovers, their sharp chatter echoing over the pond, as well as a surprise, show-stopping finale — a Philadelphia Vireo, the final species of the day and a thrilling find for any South Florida birder. The vireo’s olive back and lemon-yellow wash stood out among the green leaves, marking a fittingly bright end to a productive morning.

On September 20, PhoebesBirding members had the incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Cape Florida Bird Banding Station during peak fall migration!

Guided by our amazing field trip leader Miriam Avello, and welcomed by bander-in-charge Steffanie Mungia and the dedicated volunteers who keep the station running, we learned firsthand about the science of bird banding and the fascinating stories revealed by more than two decades of data.

From identifying and carefully measuring migrating songbirds, to watching them banded and released back into the tropical hardwood hammock at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, we gained a whole new appreciation for the vital role this site plays as a stopover for thousands of birds on their incredible journeys.

Our second Phoebes Bird Trivia Night was a hit! From testing who could name the band who sang the song “Blackbird” to what a group of cuckoos are called (an asylym) we laughed, learned, and cheered our way through an evening of fun birdy challenges.

We loved seeing new faces and longtime Phoebes come together at the cozy Doc Thomas House, sharing food, drinks, and plenty of laughs. Big thanks to everyone who brought delicious dishes (in reusable containers!) and brought their best trivia game. 🌿

Congratulations to “Heron Back Again” team for taking first prize.

Nineteen women gathered on a bright sunny winter morning for an enchanting bird walk at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary in Wellington, Fla. We strolled the berms and boardwalks of the sprawling wetlands complex, observing 66 species in a few short hours!

One of our first sightings was the Wilson’s Snipe, a typically secretive shorebird that delighted the group by strutting out in the open for great views and photo ops. The next bird we observed, also a typically elusive species, was the Sora, and it too also eventually came out into the open for everyone to get good looks.