Birds in Paradise

Bird naturalists began teaching, sharing and introducing other people ­Nov.1, to the world of birding at the Sarasota County’s Celery Fields Boardwalk on Palmer Blvd.

Owen Comora, an avid birder and member of the Sarasota Audubon Society, spearheaded the project after volunteering more than 5,000 hours as a senior volunteer bird naturalist and starting the popular bird naturalists’ program and the Friends of Myakka River’s “Nature Adventure Series” out at Myakka River State Park.

Comora wanted another place for people to visit and learn in the area, and he thought that the Celery Fields was the place to do that. Now, there are bird naturalists present seven days a week, who share their spotting scopes, bird books and expertise with the public from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Comora, who usually volunteers Thursdays, has found that those who visit are amazed by what they see through their binoculars or through his spotting scope. It is not uncommon to see an anhinga drying its wings, a bald eagle sitting at the top of a tall tree, a boat-tailed grackle right on the boardwalk’s ledge and a roseate spoonbill flying overhead, all within the two hour period. For more information visit sarasota
audubon.org/birding.