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Join the Phoebes for two nights of overnight camping at Long Pine Key campground in beautiful Everglades National Park! After dark, we can walk around the campground listening for owls, whip-poor-will, chuck-will’s-widow or other wildlife night sounds, venture further into the park to enjoy the beauty of the wilderness at night, or enjoy each other's company around a campfire.
@phoebesbirding #birdlikeagirl
Squawks filled the air as a small flock of Blue-and-yellow Macaws descended upon a royal palm in my yard. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, but it was rare enough to feel significant – perhaps an avian blessing of the annual Phoebes Birding holiday brunch being hosted in my garden later that day. I watched as the birds feasted on the palm’s newly ripened fruit, their contented squabbling wafting through the yard.
The macaws left before the first women arrived, but I was reminded of the feasting birds as tables filled with picnic delights and sounds of laughter filled the sky. This was always the highlight of the event, but our gathering of nearly 30 eventually settled at one end of the garden for an overview of 2025’s successes and a chance to dream about 2026.
A Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovered above as Ana Lima recounted the year’s XX successful events. The hummingbird continued to zip about as Miriam Avello invited all to join the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts and a January camping trip to Long Pine Key. The hummingbird even stuck around for the brainstorm session, undoubtedly oblivious to the details but perhaps picking up on the group’s enthusiasm at the prospect of adding a birdy book club to the Phoebe’s endeavors.
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, 30 Phoebes trekked through the historical Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables. This was our second annual birding trip coordinated and led by Fairchild Volunteer, Stacey Kaufman. We spotted 45 species of both resident and migrating birds during this two-hour adventure.
At the beginning of our walk down to the lowlands, we listened and spotted two resident Pileated Woodpeckers “drumming” on a telephone pole. This was a first for some of our newest Phoebes, who have never seen a Pileated Woodpecker before! We remarked how prehistoric this bird appears and learned that male and female pileated woodpeckers are pair up and remain monogamous throughout their lives.
Another notable migratory bird species we saw was an estimated 500 Turkey Vultures, which soared overhead as they took advantage of the columns of warm, rising air, also known as “thermals”. They circle within these updrafts, maintaining height and scanning the landscape below with their excellent vision, looking for carrion (dead animals). Other Raptors we saw were Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, and an American Kestrel.
On Sunday, October 12th, 2025, the Phoebes Birding group gathered once again at A.D. Barnes Park in southwest Miami for our fourth annual Big Sit. From our familiar circle overlooking fruiting fig trees, a large pond, and a slice of open sky, the Phoebes tallied an impressive 40 species over the course of the morning.
This year’s highlights included two Belted Kingfishers who made repeated flyovers, their sharp chatter echoing over the pond, as well as a surprise, show-stopping finale — a Philadelphia Vireo, the final species of the day and a thrilling find for any South Florida birder. The vireo’s olive back and lemon-yellow wash stood out among the green leaves, marking a fittingly bright end to a productive morning.
On September 20, PhoebesBirding members had the incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Cape Florida Bird Banding Station during peak fall migration!
Guided by our amazing field trip leader Miriam Avello, and welcomed by bander-in-charge Steffanie Mungia and the dedicated volunteers who keep the station running, we learned firsthand about the science of bird banding and the fascinating stories revealed by more than two decades of data.
From identifying and carefully measuring migrating songbirds, to watching them banded and released back into the tropical hardwood hammock at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, we gained a whole new appreciation for the vital role this site plays as a stopover for thousands of birds on their incredible journeys.
