APOLLO BEACH, Fla. – The Florida Birding and Nature Festival is bringing the sky to the ground on Saturday, April 11, with two free-flying bird of prey demonstrations in Apollo Beach. Hosted by Earthquest Inc., these live sessions are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Suncoast Youth Conservation Center.
The event is a centerpiece of the festival’s Nature Expo and is open to the public at no cost, thanks to funding from TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center. While the expo itself runs Friday and Saturday, April 10 and 11, the Earthquest performances are exclusive to the Saturday schedule. Families are the primary target for the day, as the expo will also feature a variety of other educational activities designed specifically for children.
The demonstration features a lineup of diverse raptors, including an African Black Eagle, a Harris Hawk, a Great Horned Owl, and an Aplomado Falcon. Each bird is trained by Steve Hoddy, a veteran wildlife educator and Earthquest’s Staff Bird Exhibitor. These birds are non-releasable, meaning they cannot survive in the wild and instead serve as ambassadors for their species.
“Earthquest provides environmental and conservation education by utilizing non-releasable birds of prey,” Hoddy said. “We look forward to welcoming you to an unforgettable experience that celebrates the wonder of birds of prey and the importance of wildlife conservation.”
Beyond the flight displays, the program focuses on the biological roles these predators fill within their ecosystems and the environmental hurdles they face. The interactive format is intended to move beyond simple entertainment to foster a genuine interest in raptor conservation.
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“The Florida Birding and Nature Festival is proud to include Earthquest’s presentation as part of our Nature Expo activities on Saturday, April 11th,” said Ann Paul, President of the Festival and the Nature Expo. “Don’t miss this extraordinary in-person opportunity to connect with nature and learn more about birds.”
The broader Nature Expo will host over 50 booths featuring nature-based art, merchandise, and high-end optics like binoculars and field scopes. Various conservation agencies will also be on-site to provide information on Florida’s local habitats.
The festival as a whole is a four-day event consisting of seminars, keynote speakers, and field trips that coincide with the peak of Florida’s fall bird migration.
To learn more visit: https://www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org/
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