Lineup of guest speakers set for 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife have announced the lineup of wildlife experts for the 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival, Wildlife and Environmental Expo, taking place Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rotary Park in Cape Coral.
Each year, the festival brings together some of the region’s most knowledgeable wildlife professionals to share vital insights on Southwest Florida’s diverse wildlife. This year, the festival’s reach extends internationally, with a featured speaker traveling from Alberta, Canada, to share insights about the western subspecies of burrowing owls and the very different conservation challenges they face.
This year’s featured speaker schedule is as follows:
10:45 a.m. — Graham Dixon-MacCallum, conservation program manager, Wilder Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He will discuss “Little Owls on the Prairie: Western burrowing owls, and efforts to give burrowing owls a head start in Alberta, Canada”
Dixon-MacCallum’s presentation will include background on the western subspecies of burrowing owls, which are found throughout western North America, and the conservation issues those owls face. He will also talk about the work he does at the Wilder Institute, where biologists are working to boost the burrowing owl population in Alberta. Juvenile owls are taken into human care for their first winter and released as adults the following spring.
12 p.m. — Emma Engel, biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Assistance Program. Her topic is “How to Coexist with Coyotes.”
Engle will invite attendees to learn more about the natural history and daily lives of coyotes, and to appreciate that these often misunderstood animals aren’t nearly as fearsome as they’re sometimes portrayed.
1:30 p.m. — Beverly Saltonstall, Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife founding member and author of “Cape Coral Burrowing Owls Don’t Hoot.”
Saltonstall will share her extensive knowledge of the behavior and habits of our local burrowing owls, along with some of her favorite stories about Cape Coral’s beloved little residents.
These expert presentations are just one highlight of the 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival – Wildlife and Environmental Expo. In addition to the speaker series, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of engaging wildlife, educational, and family-friendly activities throughout the day, including:
• Live Animals & Wildlife Encounters – Get up close with fascinating animals presented by Adam’s Animal Adventures, bringing engaging wildlife education to the festival.
• Local Wildlife Bus Tours – Ride along to see Cape Coral’s burrowing owls and other wildlife living right here in the city.
• Southwest Florida Birding Specialty Tour – A guided birding bus tour led by renowned local bird experts David and Tammy McQuade and Eary and Jennifer Warren. Advance ticket purchase required at ccfriendsofwildlife.org.
• Rotary Park Butterfly House Tours – Explore the park’s beautiful butterfly sanctuary.
• Wildlife & Conservation Expo – Meet representatives from 30+ local environmental and conservation organizations.
• Children’s’ Activities including face painting and hands-on fun
• Arts & Crafts Vendors featuring unique, handmade items
• Silent Auction with one-of-a-kind items supporting wildlife conservation
• CCFW Merchandise including T-shirts, jewelry, hats, and more
• Food and beverages from local vendors
A $5 donation at the entrance is appreciated for guests ages 12 and up.
For more information, visit ccfriendsofwildlife.org or call (239) 980-2593.