What: 12th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival.

When: Jan. 21-26, 2009.

Where: Brevard Community College, Titusville, Fla., with field trips around Brevard County.

Did you know that Florida's Space Coast is home to the largest collection of endangered wildlife and plants in the continental United States? Come to this year's Festival and learn about Florida's amazing and beautiful birds and wildlife. 

This Birding and Wildlife Festival offers participants a multitude of activities that will educate and entertain: Field trips; boat trips; kayak and canoe adventures; a nature-based trade show; art competition, seminars and workshops; and informal opportunities to meet national authorities on birds, bats, plants, turtles and snakes.

Nationally recognized naturalists, scientists, biologists and ornithologists lead the Festival events and are available to participants for one-on-one discussions and instructions.

Here are just a few of the many learning opportunities at the Festival:

• Take guided tours of local wildlife preserves with experienced guides.
• Learn about binoculars and spotting scopes used by birders.
• Discover beginning and advanced techniques for identifying birds in the field.
• Find out how to use Adobe Photoshop to improve your nature photographs.
• Enjoy slide shows and presentations of reknowned wildlife photographers.

Since the Festival takes place near Florida's Atlantic Coast, many of the birds we'll learn about are beach, shore and ocean birds. Many of the field trips will be on or near bodies of fresh or salt water.

I'll definitely be attending the Birding and Wildlife Festival this year to refine my ability to identify all the sandpipers, plovers, gulls and terns I see on the beach. They can be tricky to identify, even with an experienced eye.

This Festival is organized by the Brevard Nature Alliance, a nonprofit group of volunteer individuals and organizations that work to raise awareness of the value of Brevard County's natural resources.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.nbbd.com/fly/ .

Register early!