Florida Young Birders Club Takes Flight
This program is scheduled as a Zoom only event. Please register (for free) to attend.
YouTube recording of this presentation: https://youtu.be/Pi5kU6rLxyw
When was the last time you saw a birder under the age of 18 on one of the birding outings that you have been on? Most Audubon chapters around the country are interested in attracting younger birders to help keep the chapter (and hobby) going into the future. But they seem to have limited success attracting and retaining young birders into their group. Following the model set forth by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory with the Ohio Young Birders Club, Jim McGinity started up the Florida Young Birders Club - Tampa Bay. In 2020, this exciting new club for birders ages 9 - 17 began to take shape in the Tampa Bay Area. Within the next year, he connected with two other chapter leaders in the Orlando and St. Augustine areas that were starting up similar programs. The group has now grown to have three chapters, created a youth advisory group and aligned itself with the Florida Ornithological Society. Come hear about the beginning of an exciting, new venture to serve young birders throughout Florida from the founder and one of the young birders.
Speaker Bios
Jim McGinity
Florida Avian Conservation & Tampa Audubon Society
Jim McGinity
Mr. McGinity is a biologist and environmental educator with a life-long passion for birds. He started bird watching at the age of seven and has shared his love of birds with people of all ages while working at nature/environmental centers in four different states (Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida). He began a migratory bird banding station in Milwaukee and has participated in a number of research and citizen science projects involving birds. In 2011, he began a migratory bird banding station in west central Florida (Dunedin) where he bands for 6 weeks every spring and fall. He is very interested in communicating the importance of native plants and healthy ecosystems to resident and migratory birds. A native of Indiana, Mr. McGinity has lived in Dunedin for 18 years where he enjoys exploring Florida's natural areas including paddling rivers/streams and bird watching on our beautiful beaches and in Hammock Park.
After an over 25-year career as an environmental educator in the non-formal world at nature/environmental centers in four states, he now is working in formal education at an environmental charter school (K – 8). After having a few of his 3rd grade students show a passion for learning about birds, he made a commitment to start up a young birders club to help bring together young birders from all over the state of Florida.
Alex DeBear
Florida Young Birders Club Advisory Panel Member
Alex DeBear
Alexander DeBear is a 17 year old high school student living in Orange County, Florida. He has been birding for 2 years and he has always been interested in nature and science. His goal is to become an environmental consultant in the state of Illinois. He would like to work to restore native prairies and wetlands.
