Useful Information for Florida Birders
Florida Birding Discussion Groups/Listservs
To keep up with the most recent information regarding birds and birding in our area and the rest of the state, it is necessary to subscribe to the various birding discussion groups. One may opt to receive/send individual e-mails to the group, or receive e-mails in ‘digest’ form (several day’s worth of e-mails at one time) or elect to view these messages through your web browser (via the internet) instead of receiving e-mails in your mailbox.
These discussion groups follow. Click on the hyperlink to go to their respective websites to join.
Florida Rare Bird Alert (FLRBA)
This is the birding listserv for rare birds sighted in Florida. To join this list click on “Join or leave the list”, and fill in required information.
Bird Brain (BRDBRAIN)
This is the birding discussion group for Central Florida. The owner is Lyn Atherton. To contact this discussion group, contact Margie Wilkinson or Lyn Atherton.
Florida Birds (FLORIDABIRDS-L)
This is the birding listserv for the entire state of Florida. The owner is Barbara Passmore. Email: bkpass@bellsouth.net
FlaBirding (Florida and Bahamas Birding)
This “relaxed” list is about birding in Florida and the Bahamas and all related topics. The new list owner is Chris Newton.
North Florida Birds (NFLBIRDS)
This is the birding discussion group for North Florida. The list owner can be reached at: nflbirds-owner@yahoogroups.com
Tropical Audubon Society’s Miami Bird Box
National Birding Listservs: BIRDCHAT
— You may read daily posts/messages on-line by going to Jack Siler’s website http://www.birdingonthe.net/ Once on that page, click on the link “Regional/Specialty” under “Mailing Lists”. Finally, once that page opens, scroll down to “EASTERN US” and there you will find all of posts for the five Florida birding listservs: BirdBrains(FL, FloridaBirds-L, Florida/Bahamas, Florida RBA and FloridaSW. Click on the desired listserv name to read the posts. Note: Posts/messages will not be current as there can be delays of up to 24-hours before they find their way to this website.”
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Other Useful Information and Links
If you know of any additional links that would be of interest to Florida birders, please use the comment section at the bottom of this page to submit that information. The link will be reviewed and posted if appropriate.
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Christmas Bird Count Info (CBC)
Results for the current year can be accessed here. You will need to make a table in order to see the results. The count code for Fort Myers is FLFM.
To view the Christmas Bird Count results from prior years, click here. Click here to find any CBC data (including Fort Myers whose Circle ID is FLFM).
Wings Over Florida Program
Challenge yourself at seeing as many birds in the state as you can and get handsomely rewarded for doing it! This is a program set up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Official Checklist of Florida Birds
The list has been updated to follow the Official State List of the Birds of Florida as compiled by the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee and published in the August 2000 Florida Field Naturalist.
Florida Breeding Bird Atlas
Ever wonder what birds nest or have historically nested in your area? The answer can be found here. Field surveys for the Florida Atlas project began in 1986 and were concluded in 1991 so the data is a little outdated, but nonetheless, it is the best information available about our resident nesters.
Arthur Cleveland Bent’s “Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds” — Long before David Sibley authored “The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior”, this is what everyone used to read about bird behavior. Now you can access the complete electronic version of Bent’s magnum opus on-line!
Florida Bird Songs
— Ever wonder what that calling bird outside your window is? Now you can find out!