Longboat Key Community Calendar of Events

Test your bird knowledge with trivia questions and fellowship.

Learn about birds and their habitats, food, nests, etc. while playing a competitive game. Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. Players spend food resources to add birds, which are represented by 170 individually illustrated cards, to the forest, prairie, and wetland habitats on their player boards. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Lynn

Explore birds in our native gardens and Palmer Road boardwalk

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

"Learn to ID gulls, terns, and sandpipers. 1.5 mile walk on sand with sun. Restrooms."

Explore birds throughout the Celery Fields with Sarasota County Naturalist Kylie Wilson email or cell phone 941-724-9629.

Sarasota and Manatee Audubon Society combine for fun bird walks, socializing, and snacks. Come meet your fellow birders at our signature lo-cations. Note: we changed the time on this event at Felts Preserve to 4pm so we end before sunset.

Explore the Raymond Road boardwalk and surrounding wetlands.

David & Tammy McQuade, renowned Florida-based national champion birders, take us on their latest birding adventure Chasing the North America 2025 Big Year Record.

A Beginner's Guide to Birding, 1.5 hours – SAS Nature Center, garden, and Celery Fields boardwalk. This comprehensive course covers essential birdwatching skills. This class is FREE – Registration Required 

Meet your fellow members face to face! Greet your board members and enjoy a short presentation by a local environmentalist. Light refreshments.

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

Beginning Bird Photograpy with Forrest RowlandSaturday, Mar. 149:00 AM – 10:30 PMA Beginner's Guide to Bird Photography, 1.5 hours – SAS Nature Center, garden, and Celery Fields boardwalk. This comprehensive course covers essential bird photography skills.Registration Required

Native Plant Landscape Designer and Eco Artist Pam Callender  will teach us why native plant gardening is so vital to our local landscape and how everyone can incorporate natives into their yards. The talks will last 2 hours, they will cover:Creating and Maintaining Native Plant LandscapesCommon Gardening MythsMitigating HOA Concerns Every presentation ends with a plant tour through the gardens at the Audubon Nature Center starting at 11am.Each month adds to information from the month before, beginning with a recap.Please email Pamela to RSVP HERE 

Join Kathryn and other guest trip leaders to learn how to find birds by song, calls, ID, and habitats

Explore birds in our native gardens and Palmer Road boardwalk

Learn about birds and their habitats, food, nests, etc. while playing a competitive game. Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. Players spend food resources to add birds, which are represented by 170 individually illustrated cards, to the forest, prairie, and wetland habitats on their player boards. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Lynn

Strive to find the endangered Florida Scrub Jay and other resident birds. 1.5 mile walk on sandy trails – mainly in the sun.

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

"After using the spotting scope at the bridge, we will go to Crowley Nature Center to find resident red headed woodpeckers, bluebirds, and loggerhead shrikes. 1.5 mile walk in woods and dirt road. Restrooms at Crowley."

We will walk the beach taking time to learn Shorebird Identification, giving some time for Gulls and Terns as we work through the birds present. Not only will we discuss finer points of identifcation, but we will include some pointers on shorebird photography. Participants are encouraged to bring Field Guides or Field Guide Apps on their personal devices.

A Beginner's Guide to Butterflies, 1.5 hours – SAS Nature Center and Native Gardens. This comprehensive course covers SAS Plants-Nectar and HostButterflies they attractLife Stages of ButterfliesMating and ReproductionAnnual cycle and survivalAttracting butterflies to your gardenTips for Breeding with a cage/hutchCitizen Science ContributionsLearn how native plants host these remarkable creatures. Cost $10 members, $20 non-members.   Registration Required

LOCATION: School Board Chambers, Black Awning Building CONTACT:       Mrs. Kathy Tomkins, School Board Office Phone: (941) 927-9000, Ext. 31147

Boat tours to Roberts Bay Rookery inVenice on the Carefree Learner. See hundreds of nesting herons, egrets, spoonbills and more.The boat is docked near downtown Sarasota, south of Marina Jack's restaurant. Take Ringling Blvd., off 41/Tamiami Trail, toward the water and into the parking lot. Our boat, the Carefree Learner, is docked next to La Barge, the big boat with mermaids and palm trees. This is near O'Leary's Tiki Bar and Grill. There is a public restroom next to O'Leary's.  There are no facilities on the boat! Reservations are required for this event. Please click here to register.

Join us at Big Top Brewery for a fun evening talking birds over local brews.

Strive to find the endangered Florida Scrub Jay and other resident birds. 1.5 mile walk on sandy trails – mainly in the sun.

A renowned local artist, Jean has developed a bird and butterfly friendly yard with many fruit trees over the past 35 years. In addition, she has hundreds of native plants on her 14 acre property. Walk the property and see the busy feeders. Mainly shade. Restroom available. This is a Member's Only Event – Limited to 20 participants. Register HERE 

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

What does summer hunger feel like? For thousands of local children, summer is like an emptiness they can't escape. You can help. Come out and join All Faiths Food Bank and Sarasota County Schools for the Walk to End Summer Hunger.  Walk begins at 8:30 am. $35 adults Students attend FREE!  For More Information Contact: Email: jeremyl@allfaithsfoodbank.org  Call: 941-549-8142. CLICK TO REGISTER NOTE: This venue does not allow dogs.

Explore birds in our native gardens and Palmer Road boardwalk

A nature journal is a lens that focuses your attention, enriches your experiences, and develops your skills as a naturalist. This practice also enhances your observations, curiosity, and joy. Nature Journaling can consist of field notes, field sketches, observations, thoughts, feelings, or anything that captures your curiosity. For this Beginner's art class, Jenny will review the basics, starting with leaf and floral patterns, names of leaf and petal shapes, how to draw them and then use her favorite media, Watercolor, to show students how to make basic brushstrokes of what we drew. Jenny will also provide interesting information on the leaf and flower choices. Jenny Cherry was a featured artist at the Nature Center in May 2023. She is a graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design and an avid illustrator of portraits and landscapes. Registration Required CLICK HERE  

Illuminate – An Electrifying Fusion of Youth ArtistsFor one special evening, witness how our community's arts & cultural organizations shape the lives of more than 300 talented young performers through a dynamic collaboration between Circus Arts Conservatory and Key Chorale. Young singers and orchestra members, together with Sailor Circus students, will take the CAC arena stage alongside peers from our community's most vibrant performing arts organizations.Co-Presenters: The Circus Arts Conservatory & Key ChoraleCollaborative Partner: Arts & Cultural AllianceAn $18 order fee applies to each order and covers service fees and parking.

For those early risers interesting in trying for a few nocturnal species like Barred Owl, Chuck-will's-widow & Eastern Whip-poor-will, now's your chance! We will meet early, plan to arrive at 6 a.m. for 6:15 a.m. start time, at the Bear Bay Road Entrance to Duette Preserve.We will reconvene back at the entrance at 7:30 a.m. with participants interested in only the diurnal species and go for a few short walks from the parking area in search of the Florida subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrow, habitat specialist Bachman's Sparrow, and hope for perhaps running into other rarities like Vesper, White-throated, or White-crowned Sparrows. Pine specialists such as Brown-headed Nuthatch reside here, as do scarcer Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, and many other fun birds. The open habitats today offer good photo ops, as well.There is no fee to visit the park, nor is there infrastructure beyond dirt roads (translated: No Restrooms).This is a Members Only Event – Registration HERE is required.

This guided walk begins at 7:30 a.m. The "Early Bird" walk will return to the gate by 7:30 a.m. to join this walk. Participants interested in starting later than that early 6am walk will go for a few short walks from the parking area in search of the Florida subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrow, habitat specialist Bachman's Sparrow, and hope for perhaps running into other rarities like Vesper, White-throated, or White-crowned Sparrows. Pine specialists such as Brown-headed Nuthatch reside here, as do scarcer Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, and many other fun birds. The open habitats today offer good photo ops, as well.Note there is an "Early Bird" optional tour that begins at 6:15am.There is no fee to visit the park, nor is there infrastructure beyond dirt roads (translated: No Restrooms).This is a Members Only Event – Registration HERE is required for the 7:30 am walk.

Learn about birds and their habitats, food, nests, etc. while playing a competitive game. Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. Players spend food resources to add birds, which are represented by 170 individually illustrated cards, to the forest, prairie, and wetland habitats on their player boards. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Lynn

Explore birds in our native gardens and Palmer Road boardwalk

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

Explore birds throughout the Celery Fields with Sarasota County Naturalist Kylie Wilson email or cell phone 941-724-9629.

Birding 305 Warblers and Similar Species ID with John GroskopfSaturday, April 45:30 – 6:30 p.m.Advanced Bird ID focused on Warblers and similar species with John Groskopf. In this comprehensive classroom course you will discover the key identification markers for various warblers and similar species.Meet inside the Nature Center at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday March 7 for this classrom presentation.Registration Required

Boat tours to Roberts Bay Rookery inVenice on the Carefree Learner. See hundreds of nesting herons, egrets, spoonbills and more.The boat is docked near downtown Sarasota, south of Marina Jack's restaurant. Take Ringling Blvd., off 41/Tamiami Trail, toward the water and into the parking lot. Our boat, the Carefree Learner, is docked next to La Barge, the big boat with mermaids and palm trees. This is near O'Leary's Tiki Bar and Grill. There is a public restroom next to O'Leary's.  There are no facilities on the boat! Reservations are required for this event. Please click here to register.

"Look for flyovers, migrants, and woodpeckers. 2 mile loop walk, mainly in the sun and sandy trail. 2 mile loop walk, mainly in the sun and sandy trail. No restrooms."

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

For this Advanced art class, Jenny will show how to draw a Purple Martin, especially since we have a large nesting box (like a hotel for Martins!) at the SAS Nature Center. Jenny will discuss Purple Martins and why we have the nesting boxes on site in the first place. We may even have the opportunity to see the birds for inspiration during class! Jenny will teach how to draw 2-3 additional birds as well as a variety of Florida animals as time allows. A nature journal is a lens that focuses your attention, enriches your experiences, and develops your skills as a naturalist. This practice also enhances your observations, curiosity, and joy. Nature Journaling can consist of field notes, field sketches, observations, thoughts, feelings, or anything that captures your curiosity. Jenny Cherry was a featured artist at the Nature Center in May 2023. She is a graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design and an avid illustrator of portraits and landscapes. Registration Required CLICK HERE  

Intermediate Birding, 1.5 hours – SAS Nature Center and garden.  This more advanced course is designed for birders seeking to enhance their skills. It builds upon the knowledge gained in Birding 101.

Explore the Raymond Road boardwalk and surrounding wetlands.

Tina Morris, Ornithologist, regales us with Return to the Sky – Bald Eagle Reintroduction. In the spring of 1975, on the eve of the US Bicentennial, Tina was selected to reintroduce Bald Eagles into New York State in the hope that the species could eventually repopulate eastern North America. This presentation is based on her 2024 book Return to the Sky: The Surprising Story of How One Woman and Seven Eaglets Helped Restore the Bald Eagle. NOTE: This will be a hybrid meeting. We will be meeting in person at the First Congregational United Church of Christ on Euclid Avenue. You may also choose to zoom into this meeting. Zoom registration will begin in mid-March. The publisher Chelsea Green has set up a 35% discount for the book – be sure to use the code CGP35 Click Here to Order – and remember to use the code: CGP35

Test your bird knowledge with trivia questions and fellowship.

"First migratory shorebirds and then migrant warblers, vireos, etc. at Leffis Key. Beach sand walking and sand paths/boardwalks mainly sun. Restrooms at Coquina Beach across the street from Leffis Key."

Stu Wilson (512-897-8341) and Cathy Paris will meet you at the entrance to Broadway Beach 7001 Seabreeze Ave. (West end of Broadway St. @ north end of LBK) then the group will go to Leffis Key at the south end of Bradenton Beach on Gulf Drive South. First, we will look for migratory shorebirds on the beach and then migrant warblers, vireos, etc. at Leffis Key. Beach sand walking and sand paths/boardwalks mainly in the sun. Restrooms are located just south of Leffis Key at boat launch, also at Coquina Beach across the street.

Learn about birds and their habitats, food, nests, etc. while playing a competitive game. Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. Players spend food resources to add birds, which are represented by 170 individually illustrated cards, to the forest, prairie, and wetland habitats on their player boards. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Lynn

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

"Join Jim Nichols, President of the Florida Bluebird Society for a presenta-tion on these beautiful jewels."

Join Kathryn and other guest trip leaders to learn how to find birds by song, calls, ID, and habitats.

"Looking for migrants and flyovers. Less than one quarter mile of shaded walk. Restrooms."

LOCATION: School Board Chambers, Black Awning Building CONTACT:       Mrs. Kathy Tomkins, School Board Office Phone: (941) 927-9000, Ext. 31147

Explore birds in our native gardens and Palmer Road boardwalk.

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

Explore birds in our native gardens and Palmer Road boardwalk

Join us for a guided nature journaling event, where participants will learn to observe and record the natural world through drawing and writing. This hands-on program offers a relaxing way to connect with nature while sharpening observation skills. This program is suitable for all ages, but does require periods of sustained focus and quiet observation. All participants under the age of 16 must attend with a parent or guardian. This program is limited to 15 participants. REGISTER HERE

Wingspan is a card-driven, resource-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. RSVP so we know how many tables to set up. Click here to RSVP to Stacy

LOCATION: School Board Chambers, Black Awning Building CONTACT:       Mrs. Kathy Tomkins, School Board Office Phone: (941) 927-9000, Ext. 31147

LOCATION: School Board Chambers, Black Awning Building CONTACT:       Mrs. Kathy Tomkins, School Board Office Phone: (941) 927-9000, Ext. 31147

LOCATION: School Board Chambers, Black Awning Building CONTACT:       Mrs. Kathy Tomkins, School Board Office Phone: (941) 927-9000, Ext. 31147

LOCATION: School Board Chambers, Black Awning Building CONTACT:       Mrs. Kathy Tomkins, School Board Office Phone: (941) 927-9000, Ext. 31147