Events - Field Trip: Week-end in the Lower Keys

Title:

Field Trip: Week-end in the Lower Keys

Begin:

2/21/2009 9:00 AM

End:

2/22/2009 5:00 PM

Description:

Big Pine Key, Key West, & stops in between. This car caravan field trip is ideal if you can do a week-end; if not, you can join us on Saturday for Big Pine Key or on Sunday for Key West. We begin in Big Pine Key, which is considered a butterfly “hotspot,” and a rich area for a special suite of Florida’s rarest butterflies. Starting early Saturday, we will search Big Pine Key, including some restricted areas of the national wildlife refuge, trying for four species of our South Florida Blues, including the endangered Miami Blue, plus the Florida Leafwing (thought now to be extirpated from the Keys, but hope springs eternal and all that), the Florida Duskywing, and Bartram’s and Martial Scrub-Hairstreaks. Time permitting, we will investigate Suglarloaf Key’s far west end for selected skippers and Paula Cannon’s superb yard.

Sunday in Key West: Key West’s parks and gardens, including the Key West Botanical Garden, Hamaka Park, Indigenous Park, and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park offer a wealth of possibilities for South Florida specialties. On our way back to Miami from Key West, time permitting, we may stop at Curry Hammock State Park and/or Long Key State Park to see what’s abroad in the late afternoon.

Practicalities: Plan on carrying a picnic lunch both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday evening dinner options could include a trip into Key West for any number of good dining prospects, or enjoying one of the seafood restaurants on Big Pine or nearby. There are likely to be some folks preferring each option; we will plan as a group and make any needed reservations early Saturday afternoon. Dinner on Sunday is on your own – stay in Key West, or enjoy one of the good places on Route 1 heading home. If several folks are on the same schedule, we can arrange to meet for dinner at some agreed upon spot.

As usual, bring lots of water, sun and bug protection.

For suggestions on lodging, contact Elane Nuehring (305-666-5727) or MiamiBlueEvents@bellsouth.net.

Leaders: Michelle Wisniewski, Elane & Ron Nuehring

Big Pine Key, Saturday: Meet on Saturday, 9:00 am, at Bahia Honda State Park, MM 37, Big Pine Key, just past the entry station.

www.bahiahondapark.com
or
www.floridastateparks.org/
bahiahonda/default.cfm

Park fee: $3.50 if single occupant; $6 per car for 2 occupants & .50 per person over 2 persons

Key West, Sunday: Meet at 9:00 am on Saturday, at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, located at the end of Southard Street on Truman Annex in Key West.
305-292-6713; 305-292-6850
Park fee: $3.50 if single occupant; $6 per car for 2 occupants & .50 per additional person.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/
forttaylor/default.cfm OR
www.forttaylor.org

http://www.miamiblue.org/eventcal/index.php?month=2&year=2009

Location:

Big Pine Key, Key West, & stops in between

Recurrence:

Workspace:

Attachments:

Created at 1/27/2009 9:35 AM by Mary.Truglio

Last modified at 1/27/2009 9:35 AM by Mary.Truglio