Burrowing owls are the city of Cape Coral\u2019s official bird and a favorite for photographers. FILE<\/p>\n
A long-time tradition in the Cape paying homage and educating the public on Cape Coral\u2019s official city bird returns this weekend.<\/p>\n
The 24th annual Burrowing Owl Festival \u2014 Wildlife & Environmental Expo, put on by the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and the city Parks and Recreation Department, takes place this Saturday at Rotary Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Attendees can expect fan favorites like Adam\u2019s Animal Adventures, Children\u2019s Corner, Tom Allen Butterfly House tours, silent auction, bus tours, vendors, crafts, and much more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly proud to bring the 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival \u2013 Wildlife and Conservation Expo to Cape Coral,\u201d said CCFW spokesperson Janet Windisch. \u201cOur volunteers have been working for months to make this year\u2019s event better than ever. Nearly 40 organizations will present outstanding exhibits and our wildlife tours are always a highlight.\u00a0The festival also features arts and crafts vendors, a silent auction and hands-on children\u2019s activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
At just a $5 donation for adults (ages 12+), the festival an affordable day of fun and education for the whole family.<\/p>\n
Event Highlights Include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Live Animals & Wildlife Encounters \u2013 Get up close with fascinating animals presented by Adam\u2019s Animal Adventures, bringing engaging wildlife education to the festival.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Local Wildlife Bus Tours \u2013 Ride along to see burrowing owls and other wildlife living right here in Cape Coral. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Southwest Florida Birding Specialty Tour \u2013 A guided birding bus tour led by renowned local bird experts David and Tammy McQuade and Eary and Jennifer Warren. Advance ticket purchase required at ccfriendsofwildlife.org.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Rotary Park Butterfly House Tours \u2013 Explore the park\u2019s beautiful butterfly sanctuary.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Wildlife & Conservation Expo \u2013 Meet representatives from 30+ local environmental and conservation organizations.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Guest Speakers \u2013 Enjoy a series of presentations by wildlife and conservation experts covering topics relevant to Southwest Florida and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many fun, hands-on activities for kids,\u201d Windisch said. \u201cFrom interacting with wildlife at Adam\u2019s Animal Adventures to face painting and arts and crafts, children will be fully engaged throughout the day. The activities are interactive and educational \u2014 proving that learning and fun truly go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s featured speaker schedule is as follows:<\/p>\n
\u2022 10:45 a.m. \u2014 Graham Dixon-MacCallum, conservation program manager, Wilder Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He will discuss \u201cLittle Owls on the Prairie: Western burrowing owls, and efforts to give burrowing owls a head start in Alberta, Canada\u201d<\/p>\n
Dixon-MacCallum\u2019s presentation will include background on the western subspecies of burrowing owls, which are found throughout western North America, and the conservation issues those owls face. He will also talk about the work he does at the Wilder Institute, where biologists are working to boost the burrowing owl population in Alberta. Juvenile owls are taken into human care for their first winter and released as adults the following spring.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Noon \u2014 Emma Engel, biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission\u2019s Wildlife Assistance Program. Her topic is \u201cHow to Coexist with Coyotes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Engle will invite attendees to learn more about the natural history and daily lives of coyotes, and to appreciate that these often misunderstood animals aren\u2019t nearly as fearsome as they\u2019re sometimes portrayed.<\/p>\n
\u2022 1:30 p.m. \u2014 Beverly Saltonstall, Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife founding member and author of \u201cCape Coral Burrowing Owls Don\u2019t Hoot.\u201d Saltonstall will share her extensive knowledge of the behavior and habits of our local burrowing owls, along with some of her favorite stories about Cape Coral\u2019s beloved little residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach speaker brings valuable expertise and practical information that residents can apply in their own communities,\u201d Windisch said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cape Coral is home to the largest known population of the Florida burrowing owl, which is a state designated threatened species according to Florida Fish and Wildlife. These pint-sized birds burrow underground where they nest from early February through mid-July. People come from all over the state, country, and globally to photograph the owls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Constant development in one of the fastest-growing cities in the country is impacting the habitats of these friendly birds. The festival is a perfect opportunity to get important information on why the species, and others, are vital to the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEducation is at the heart of our festival,\u201d Windisch said. \u201cCCFW will showcase a full-size burrowing owl diorama and demonstrate how you can build a starter burrow for displaced owls. Nearly 40 environmental and wildlife organizations will be exhibiting, covering a wide range of fascinating topics. Guests can learn about the endangered smalltooth sawfish, manatees, purple martins that migrate from South America to nest locally, and much more. The Southwest Florida Astronomical Society will set up telescopes to view sunspots and Ding Darling will bring their Roving Ranger. Southwest Florida is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. This festival provides a wonderful opportunity not only to learn about these species, but also to recognize how fragile they are \u2014 and why conservation matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the event\u2019s Southwest Florida Birding Speciality Tour with David and Tammy McQuade, and Eary and Jennifer Warren has sold out, there is still a chance to hop aboard the local Wildlife Bus Tour.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Participants can ride along to see burrowing owls and other wildlife living in Cape Coral. These approximately one-hour tours, and offer an opportunity to observe owls in their natural habitat and learn from knowledgeable guides. Tickets may be purchased at the festival.<\/p>\n
CCFW\u2019s annual festival T-shirt featuring the winning photo from last year\u2019s burrowing owl photo contest will be available along with other CCFW merchandise.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents look forward to the shirts and owl-themed merchandise each year,\u201d Windisch said.<\/p>\n
CCFW\u2019s online auction is also running now through March 1, with hundreds of items up for bid.\u00a0 Organizers said this is an excellent opportunity to support CCFW\u2019s mission for those that can\u2019t attend the festival in person. Visit\u00a0ccfriendsofwildlife.org\u00a0or\u00a0ww.biddingforgood.com\/CCFW\u00a0to check out the items and bid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, every dollar raised at the festival goes directly toward CCFW\u2019s mission to preserve and protect wildlife and habitat in Cape Coral, to educate the community about our local species, and, with special emphasis, to acquire and safeguard land for wildlife habitat,\u201d Windisch said.<\/p>\n
In partnership with Cape Coral Wildlife Trust, CCFW has helped acquire 87 lots in Cape Coral, totaling nine acres of protected land thus far. Participation in the Burrowing Owl Festival helps support and continue these critical conservation efforts.<\/p>\n
For more information on the festival, visit\u00a0ccfriendsofwildlife.org<\/a>\u00a0or call 239-980-259.<\/p>\n Rotary Park is at 5505 Rose Garden Road.<\/p>\n