SCBWF Weekend (Trip B) – TM Goodwin Broadmoor Tract (Special Use Permit)

**Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival Weekend**
A group of local trip leaders, tour guides, and industry vendors are planning the return of the SCBWF in 2024. As a ‘warm up’ to the festival’s return the foundational group is conducting a birding weekend to showcase the immense diversity of bird species found in our area. The weekend will include a series of birding field trips from 19-23 January. Space Coast Audubon is providing support through promotion, hosting, and field trip leader involvement.

**TRIP B: TM Goodwin Broadmoor Tract (Special Use Permit)**
Trip Leader: David Simpson, Birding with David Simpson
07:00 – 15:00 Meet at Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area (dirt parking lot next to the Boat Ramp)
**Bring lunch** – we’ll be birding for nearly 8 hours! Possibly 100 species. Lot and lots of ducks, shorebirds, wading birds, Gray-headed Swamphen, American white pelicans, and many more.

This field trip is available by Special Use Permit; therefore, the area will not be open to the general public. The entrance gate will be closed and locked after we pass through. See the Trip Leader to get the gate code if you need to depart prior to the end of the trip.

*****If this is your first trip to the property please allow plenty of extra time to reach the parking lot by 0700am. From Babcock Road it is 6.5 miles to the parking area where we meet. It can take up to 17 minutes from the time you leave Babcock St SE and travel down Fellsmere Grade Rd. It is a dirt road and often bumpy, so cars go slow.**

**Allow enough time to stop to use the restroom at the boat ramp along the way, if needed. The entrance gate will be locked after our group enters, so late arrivals cannot be accommodated.****

Logistics: Follow Fellsmere Grade Road all the way (west) until it dead ends at the boat ramp (6.5 miles from where you turn off Babcock Road). Drive until you can’t drive any further without going into the water…you’ve arrived. Park in the dirt lot next to the bridge. While you’re driving down Fellsmere Grade Road you will pass two boat ramps. I strongly suggest using the first restroom (shortly after you leave Babcock Road, on the right near the Crew team storage buildings). The bathroom near our meeting area is not maintained and really disgusting (bring hand sanitizer and a nose plug if you plan to use it). There are no bathrooms once we depart from the parking lot and cross the bridge.
The trip is primarily driving, with periodic stops for photos and to observe through scopes, so the entire trip is suitable for anyone with limited mobility.

We will have a picnic lunch in our cars part way through the trip.
Please bring: Lunch, water/drinks, bug repellent, sunscreen, binoculars, and hearty snacks. The trip leader will check out a radio to each car to ensure everyone report sightings, learn about the species seen, and to notify the group of stops. Please direct message the host (Rochelle Hood) or send email ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])) if you need to borrow a loaner pair of binoculars.

For specific questions about the field trip contact David Simpson ([email protected]). Any questions about registration, direct message the host (Rochelle) or email to: [email protected].