Field Trip Guidelines: Field trips are open to anyone interested in birding. Non-members are welcome.  All trips are free unless the locale has an entrance fee or a charge for parking. We recommend sturdy shoes, comfortable clothing, insect repellent, sunscreen, and water or other suitable beverages. Please contact the trip leader to indicate that you plan to attend and to get any information about changes in plan.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Make reservations with: Claudia

camsler36@gmail.com or 813-244-0305

Meet in the parking lot at 8 a.m. There is a $5.00 per vehicle fee, $2 per person. Please bring correct change as this is an "honor" pay station. A restroom is available at the covered pavilion near the parking lot.

Sweetwater Wetlands is a 125-acre park with 3.5 miles of crushed gravel and boardwalks for viewing wetlands and ponds that were created to improve the water quality of Paynes Prairie and the Floridan Aquifer. There are several viewing platforms. Participants should be aware that there is no shade on the trails. 

The trip is well worth making because of the many species of wading birds, including many Purple Gallinules. It is also possible that we will see sparrows and several duck species. If we are very fortunate, we might even see an endangered Snail Kite as this species has recently made a home for itself in the park.

To carpool from Hernando County, meet at 6:20 a.m. at McDonald’s, 31038 Cortez Blvd, on the southside of State Road 50, just east of Interstate 75.

Directions:
If coming from the south on Interstate 75, take exit 382 toward State Road 121N/Gainesville.