Come and enjoy the Orlando Wetlands Park Festival on Saturday February 19, 2011, from 9am-3pm at Fort Christmas Park. This world renowned example of Wetlands Engineering is a 1,650 acre oasis for flora, fauna and feathered friends.
The Orlando Wetlands Park represents the world’s first large scale wetlands treatment system. This wetland treatment system is a series of impoundments, which were planted with many different species of aquatic plants. These impoundments are now treatment marshes that polish excess nutrients from the reclaimed wastewater before it is discharged to the St Johns River.
On February 19, 2011, come and experience this unique wetland treatment system with the entire family. Sponsors for the event are City of Orlando, Orange Audubon Society, PBSJ and Orange County Parks and Recreation. Orange Audubon Society will lead guided bird watching excursions. Professional photographers Milton Heiburg, Vinny Colucci and Melissa Southern will be conduct nature photo shoots. The Florida Native Plant Society will lead native plant identification hikes. The Florida Trail Association will provide wilderness hikes. For those who like to sit and ride, hay rides and guided bus tours will travel along the wetland berms, giving riders a chance to experience first hand, Florida’s wild wetlands.
In addition to the numerous guided tours, there will be bird banding and mist-netting demonstrations, tree giveaways, door prizes, and live folk music. Featured in the various wildlife shows, many different live animals will be present such as alligators, Florida panthers, snakes, birds and many others. Food will also be available for purchase.
There will be many interactive children’s activities (like the Out-On-A-Limb kid’s tree climbing, bounce house and games), so bring the whole family and invite your friends and neighbors to this fun, free, educational festival. Bring your cameras, off-road bikes or sturdy hiking shoes, and prepare for an adventure in the wilderness. Please leave your pets at home; there are wild animals. Free admission and free door prizes!
For more information:
Call Orlando Wetlands Park 407.568.1706, email [email protected], or visit us online at cityoforlando.net/wetlands.
