Free Birding Tour This Saturday

CLEWISTON, FL. -- Through a partnership with Hendry-Glades Audubon, the
South Florida Water Management District will offer to the public escorted
birding
tours at Stormwater STA-5 south of Clewiston in eastern Hendry County.
The first trip is scheduled Saturday, October 22, at STA-5 from 8:30
a.m. to noon, and subsequent tours are scheduled regularly through April
2006.

The stormwater treatment areas, owned and operated by the South
Florida Water Management District, are vast, constructed wetlands that
use vegetation to naturally cleanse excess nutrients from water before
it enters the Everglades. These remote, shallow-water marshes attract
many species of nesting wading birds, migratory and other water fowl
such as great blue herons, wood storks, snowy egrets, great egrets and
roseate spoonbills.

Tours are open to anyone, but participants must register to reserve a space
on the trips. To carpool from LaBelle for the first tour meets at the
LaBelle Winn Dixie October 22 at 7 a.m. To sign up for the STA-5 Birding
Tour: Send an e-mail to Margaret England at sta5birding@earthlink.net with
your name and contact information, the date you want to go, and the number
in your party. You may also leave a message at (863) 674-0695 or (863)
517-0202.