Merritt Island Wildlife Association

History & Homestead: A Christmas Florida Celebration
2024-11-02 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Christmas Mills and Roastery, 1144 Taylor Creek Rd, Christmas, 32709
Event Description
Many birders and nature enthusiasts know Christmas Florida as the gateway to Orlando Wetlands, Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, and Swampy, the world’s largest gator. Join us as we travel back in time to the heart of Christmas, Florida, to learn about history of the farms and families that make it such a unique place.
We will gather at the Christmas Mills and Roastery red caboose to be transported back to a simpler time while learning about milling corn, making cornbread, producing cane syrup, and coffee roasting. From farm fields to mistletoe, our program will include an informal storytelling session that will delve into the fascinating history of Christmas.
No such journey back in time would be complete without a taste of homemade goodness. Enjoy an array of homemade pies and treats, crafted with love and the same care as generations before. Freshly roasted coffee will warm your soul as we gather for a picnic that invites you to participate in the age-old custom of sharing food. Bring your favorite sandwich fixin’s, and we’ll provide the homemade bread, baked just as it was in the old days, to complete your meal.
After our picnic lunch, the Christmas Market will be open with neighbors and friends selling honey, coffee, jams & jellies, soaps, handcrafted items, stone ground layered grit jars, corn bread mixes, and baked goodies. You can also place an order for holiday pies.
Tickets available here.

Birds, Art and More Tour
2024-10-25 08:00 - 13:00 | FL
Cost: $15 (Advanced registration is required)
(Includes entrance to both museums and Audubon Birds of Florida special exhibit)
0800-1015 Field trip with Birding with David Simpson (Dee & David)
1015-1045 Restroom break and travel to Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS)
1045-1100 Arrive at MOAS and check in for tour
1100-1300 Docent led tour of Audubon special exhibit, planetarium show, and time to explore other galleries.
Birding Field Trip
Trip leaders Dee and David, professional guides from Birding with David Simpson, will lead us on an adventure to two different birding hot spots to look for local species and fall migrants. Tipping the guides is optional, but greatly appreciated.
Stop #1: Ponce Preserve
Ponce Preserve – https://maps.app.goo.gl/jdQd9nhamYFDv77LA
Restrooms on site. No entrance fee. Boardwalk 1/3 mile. Mangroves and salt marsh, lagoon overlook. Some woods around parking lot. Migrants, Clapper Rails, maybe some ducks and waterbirds on lagoon.
Stop #2: Port Orange Causeway Park
Port Orange Causeway Park – https://maps.app.goo.gl/oL84Gs9kE7ss9GxQ6
10 min from Ponce Preserve. 15-20 min from museum. No entrance fee. Restrooms on site. Walk around parking lot. Lots of water birds. Ducks, Oystercatchers, shorebirds.
Museum of Arts and Sciences – Art Museum Special Audubon Exhibition Tour
John James Audubon’s Birds of Florida
The Museum of Arts & Sciences invites you on an extraordinary journey through the original Birds of Florida as captured in the meticulously painted studies of John James Audubon (1785-1851), one of the most celebrated artists in American history. A masterpiece of printmaking, these exquisite, life-size illustrations are part of Audubon’s ground-breaking 435-count compendium The Birds of America, the culmination of the artist’s ambition to paint every bird species in North America. As part of this twelve-year venture, Audubon organized a special expedition to Florida (1831-1832) in order to document the birds, and their habitats, unique to the U.S. Territory.
Location:
Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS)
352 S. Nova Road
Daytona Beach FL 32114
Our group will enjoy a private, docent led tour of Audubon’s Birds of Florida special exhibit. Following the tour attendees will have free time for self-guided viewing of the other galleries and science museum.

Tickets on Sale Now: Annual Meeting and Dinner
2024-10-19 16:00 - 20:30 | Field Manor, 750 Field Manor Drive, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, United States
Tickets on sale now!
Mark your calendar and join us for our 30th Anniversary celebration! This year we are expanding seating to 125 and planning a lovely evening with a sunset view along the Indian River Lagoon. Field Manor is an 1800’s historic homestead located on
45 beautiful acres that include 400 feet of river frontage. There will be a silent auction again with baskets, artwork, and adventures. New table sponsorship opportunities are available too. Gather a group of friends and enjoy the evening together.
Individual Tickets are $40 per person and include buffet-style dinner, coffee/tea service, and dessert. Doors open at 3:30pm, auction viewing starts at 4pm, and dinner will be served at 4:30pm.

Keynote Speaker: Kirsten Hines is a Florida-based writer, photographer, and conservationist focused on highlighting nature and wildlife around the world. Anchored by her master’s degree in biology and experience as an environmental educator, her aim is to inspire conservation action through her personalized story-telling. She has authored or co-authored nine books, most recently Birds of Florida: A Photographic Guide and Recovering Caribbean Nature. Kirsten’s images have been featured in numerous photography showcases and exhibitions, public art programs, and magazines. She lectures widely on a range of nature and photography-related subjects, and leads wildlife photography field trips and workshops.

Dine to Donate: Village Inn, Titusville
2024-10-15 16:00 - 21:00 | Village Inn Titusville, 2925 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL, 32780, United States
Gather some friends for dinner, pickup a take home meal or enjoy a delicious piece of pie. On October 15, 2024, from 4pm to 9pm, Village Inn Titusville is generously donating a portion of their sales to Merritt Island Wildlife Association. Enjoy a fantastic meal while supporting a great cause. Whether you dine in or order takeout, your support will make a positive impact. Gather your friends and family for a night of fun and philanthropy!
Dine to Donate
Tuesday, Oct 15th
Dine In or Get Takeaway
Anytime Between 4p to 9pm
Village Inn
2925 S Washington Ave
Titusville, FL 32780

Dine to Donate: Village Inn, Titusville
2024-09-24 16:00 - 21:00 | Village Inn Titusville, 2925 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL, 32780, United States
Gather some friends for dinner, pickup a take home meal or enjoy a delicious piece of pie. On September 24, 2024, from 4pm to 9pm, Village Inn Titusville is generously donating a portion of their sales to Merritt Island Wildlife Association. Enjoy a fantastic meal while supporting a great cause. Whether you dine in or order takeout, your support will make a positive impact. Gather your friends and family for a night of fun and philanthropy!
Dine to Donate
Tuesday, Sept 24th
Dine In or Get Takeaway
Anytime Between 4p to 9pm
Village Inn
2925 S Washington Ave
Titusville, FL 32780

Fall 2024 Grabbers for Growlers
2024-09-23 09:00 - 13:00 | Blackpoint Wildlife Drive
Adopt-An-Area Cleanup
Monday, Sept 23 from 9am to 1pm
Sign Up At: https://bit.ly/septcleanup
Join us for Grabbers for Growlers, a fun-ﬁlled service project dedicated to cleaning up our beloved natural spaces as part of the Adopt-An-Area program. Merritt Island Wildlife Association and Playalinda Brewery are teaming up to clean up Areas 10 and 11 on Black Point Wildlife Drive, along with the horseshoe crab beach on West Gator Creek Road.
Gather your friends, rub on some sunscreen, and get ready to make a diﬀerence. We’ll be wielding grabber tools like eco-ninja, conquering litter so it doesn’t become troublesome for the wildlife who call the Refuge home. But wait, there’s more! After a successful clean-up mission, we will gather at Playalinda Brewery Hardware Store location to quench your thirst with some refreshing craft brews (beers and root beer) and a delicious lunch. Reﬁll a Growler or purchase one to go to be entered in our special sustainability raﬄe drawing.
It’s the perfect way to get to know the tap room team, celebrate giving back to nature, and converse with fellow nature enthusiasts. Are you ready to grab some trash and tip some growlers? Register today for Grabbers for Growlers and let’s make a positive impact on our community, one piece of litter at a time!
Itinerary:

0845 Meet in the parking area by the restroom stop on Black Point Wildlife Drive (approx. 3.5 miles from the entrance). Sign in and receive clean up supplies.
0900 Drive to Adopt-An-Areas. The group will space out our cars, parking between areas 10 and 11 working our way back to the middle point while picking up litter.
1015 Depart Black Point Wildlife Area and travel to West Gator Creek Road (park near the kiosk).
1030 Clean up the horseshoe crab sandy beach shoreline and ‘deep clean’ under the mangroves.
1130 Collect trash bags and supplies. Document our clean up outcomes.
1145 Travel to Playalinda Brewery Hardware Store, 305 S. Washington Ave, Titusville 32796.
1200 Enjoy lunch with the Tap Room team. Food and drinks are provided by MIWA and Playalinda Brewery as a THANK YOU for volunteering.

Cause a Scene for a Good Cause: Fundraiser at Blaze Pizza Viera
2024-09-10 17:00 - 21:00 | Blaze Pizza, 2348 Citadel Way, Suite 101, Melbourne, FL, 32940, United States
Pizza (and more) for a Purpose
Blaze Pizza Viera will be donating 25% of the proceeds from any dining in, take out, gift cards or take-n-bake meals ordered during our event when you mention the MIWA fundraiser. You can order in the APP, or let the servers know when you place your order at the restaurant. Show your phone with the Meetup event and photo of the flyer. Blaze Pizza is a build your own pizza style restaurant. Their menu includes Gluten Free pizza and delicious salads. Gather a group or get takeaway for your family to support the mission of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Merritt Island Wildlife Association
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Locations: 2348 Citadel Way, Suite 101, Melbourne, FL 32940
Order Mode: In-Restaurant, Blaze Pizza App, or BlazePizza.com
Blaze Pizza will donate 25% of proceeds from your meal back to our organization.
TWO WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR ORGANIZATION:
In-Restaurant: Bring in a flyer (in photo gallery) or show it on your phone before paying.
Online Orders: Orders must be placed online via the Blaze Pizza App or blazepizza.com. Enter code 1321B into the ‘Promo Code’ field at checkout to have your transaction count towards the fundraiser donation. If entered correctly, you’ll see a $.01 discount applied to your check which confirms that 25% of your transaction will be counted into total donation. VALID FOR PICKUP, CURBSIDE & CARRYOUT ONLY.
For orders on blazepizza.com or Blaze Pizza App
PROMO CODE: 1321B

Shoredbird Talk and Drive - Merritt Island NWR Program
2024-09-05 12:30 - 14:00 | Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center, 1987 Scrub Jay Way, Titusville, FL, 32782, United States
Please join us to learn about the shorebirds that visit our area and the wonderful species that call Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge home! Meet in the Visitor Center Auditorium to discover what makes these species unique. The presentation will be followed by an adventure out to Black Point Wildlife Drive to observe and identify shorebirds. Please note, the drive around Black Point Wildlife Drive is caravan-style and each person will be responsible for their own transportation.
Questions: Call the Visitor Center at 321-861-0669 (Tues to Sat from 8am to 4pm)
Reserve Your Spot: Shorebird Talk and Drive
Continue your learning by purchasing a field guide or reference book at Nature’s Treasures Gift Shop, located inside the Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center. Shorebird program attendees will receive a 10% discount on all merchandise purchases in the Gift Shop.
Nature’s Treasures Gift Shop is excited to announce the new release of Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson’s, The Shorebirds of North America is now available for purchase. This natural history and photographic celebration of shorebirds covers topics ranging from their biology and habitats to courtship and breeding, flight, the perils of migration, and conservation. Fact-filled descriptions of all 52 species of shorebirds known to breed in North America and breathtaking photos make this a valuable resource for learning.

Painting with a Purpose at Space Coast Ceramics
2024-08-29 17:30 - 19:30 | Space Coast Ceramics, 326 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL, United States
Unleash your inner artist and support the Merritt Island Wildlife Association
Join us at Space Coast Ceramics for a “Painting with a Purpose” event to support the Merritt Island Wildlife Association. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just looking for a fun and creative outlet, this event is for you. No artistic experience is necessary. Gather with fellow nature enthusiasts to create, connect, and contribute to preserving our local wildlife. Your brushstrokes will not only adorn the pottery as your canvas, but will also help protect habitats used by the wildlife at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
The evening will kick off with shopping the studio’s selection of pottery pieces. Create your unique design on the pottery you’ve purchased using a palette of colors from the studio glazes. Your ceramic art will be fired in the kiln and ready for pickup approximately 1 week after our event.
Space Coast Ceramics will donate 10% of the sales from the event to Merritt Island Wildlife Association.

Dine to Donate: Village Inn Titusville
2024-08-20 16:00 - 21:00 | Village Inn Titusville, 2925 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL, 32780, United States
Gather some friends for dinner, pickup a take home meal or enjoy a delicious piece of pie. On August 20th from 4pm to 9pm, Village Inn Titusville is generously donating a portion of their sales to Merritt Island Wildlife Association. Enjoy a fantastic meal while supporting a great cause. Whether you dine in or order takeout, your support will make a positive impact. Gather your friends and family for a night of fun and philanthropy!
Dine to Donate
Tuesday, August 20
Dine In or Get Takeaway
Anytime Between 4p to 9pm
Village Inn
2925 S Washington Ave
Titusville, FL 32780

Summer Series Butterfly Walk (August 2024, Sams House at Pine Island Conservation Area)
2024-08-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Sams House, Pine Island, 6195 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, United States
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Florida’s butterflies on our guided walk! Learn basic identification during our short indoor program highlighting features and differences between skippers, swallowtails, hairstreaks, and whites/yellows. Gain knowledge about the captivating lifecycle of a butterfly, exploring the journey from an egg to majestic adult. The education session will include photographs of butterflies commonly seen in our area along with some tips on how to enjoy butterfly watching.

Following the presentation, we will visit the native plant gardens to look for butterflies and their host plants. We’ll enjoy a bit of the outdoors before returning into the cool A/C to discover about native plants a pollinator habitat.
No prior knowledge or skill are required. All ages welcome. We will have field guides, butterfly checklists, and other resources available to enhance your enjoyment of the gardens.
About our instructor (Ed Perry):
Ed Perry retired after serving 31-years as a Park Ranger at Sebastian Inlet State Park. He enjoys fishing, butterfly gardening, growing & grafting tropical fruit trees, beachcombing (for sea-beans!), tropical fish aquaria, wildlife photography, and sharing life with his daughter Gayle. Ed is a Florida native who graduated from the University of Florida in 1988. In his retirement life he became interested in being involved in butterfly counts and protecting tracts of native, wild lands within our beautiful state of Florida.

Wonders of Worms Workshop for Adults
2024-08-17 09:00 - 23:00 | Rotary Park Nature Center, 1899 S Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL, 32952
Join Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) and Eaton Worms to learn about the benefits of using organic worms for composting and beneficial food for wildlife. Discover how to create a natural fertilizer that grows vibrant fruits, vegetables and plants. Worms are also nutritious snacks for many wildlife species and a prime bait for attracting fish. In this workshop, you will become familiarized with wormcasting, also known as vermicast, and the process of producing natural fertilizers. Each participant will receive a vermicomposting kit. Following the workshop, the Rotary Park Naturalists will lead us on tour of their native plant and pollinator gardens. A few lucky participants will get to conduct live worm releases in the garden and provide some snacks for the ambassador animals.
Worms are the key to creating healthy soil production. Did you know wormcastings:

Contain over 200 million beneficial bacteria.
Are rich in nutrients, make great fertilizer, and are a natural pest repellent.
Are Lagoon Friendly due to low nutrient level.

The Eaton Worms team will have their entire product line for sale during the event with special discounts for workshop attendees. All the supplies necessary for a DIY composter will be available to purchase along with lots of extra worms if you want to buy more for your kit, to donate as food for the education ambassador animals at the nature center, or to release into the native plant garden.
Logistics
Date/Time: Saturday, Aug 17 from 9am to 11am
Location: Rotary Park Nature Center, 1899 S Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32952
Cost: $15 per person (MIWA Members will receive bonus worms)
Adult Learning Level: Workshop content and format is designed for individuals 16 years of age and older.
Advanced registration and payment is required to pre-order worm kits (click here)

Gopher Tortoise Education Day
2024-08-02 09:00 - 11:00 | Sendler Education Outpost, North SR3, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Calling all curious minds! School is about to begin and what better way to start the new school year than learning outdoors! Join us for Gopher Tortoise Education Day to learn all about your special little neighbors, the gopher tortoises, and what makes them heroes in their habitats. We’ll also learn what it means for a species to be endangered and why protected land is so important.
Meet amazing ambassador animals from the Florida Wildlife Hospital, including a real gopher tortoise! This exciting event will be a fun-filled adventure for kids of all ages. Learn why these fascinating creatures are important to our environment and discover the secrets of their underground homes – the burrows!
Ranger Anna will kick off the morning by sharing why the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to many gopher tortoises and other protected wildlife species. Get up close with the Florida Wildlife Hospital ambassadors to see the features that help them dig their underground ‘condos’ that provide shelter for many other species.
We will have a supply drive collection box if you want to donate an item to help with the care of the Florida Wildlife Hospital patients. For a list of items needed, visit https://floridawildlifehospital.org/wishlist/
Become a Junior Gopher Tortoise Guru
Throughout the Gopher Tortoise Education Day, we’ll have fun activities about these amazing reptiles. Learn fun facts to answer questions and participate in our education stations to earn points towards prizes.

Summer Series Butterfly Walk (July 2024, Enchanted Forest)
2024-07-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Brevard County Enchanted Forest, 444 Columbia Blvd, Titusville, FL, 32780, United States

Bags and Brekkie
2024-07-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Winn Dixie, 1564 Harrison St, Titusville, FL, 32780, United States
Calling all nature enthusiasts! Join us for Bags and Brekkie, a unique morning event that combines community spirit with a love for wildlife and natural spaces. We’ll kick things off at Winn-Dixie Titusville (Harrison St location) where you can purchase a reusable Community Bag and join our photo op. Winn-Dixie will donate $1 to MIWA for each Community Bag purchased at the Harrison St. location during July. Use your Community Bag as a symbol of commitment to sustainability.
Join our challenge to buy 1 item to incorporate into our breakfast chat. Perhaps it’s a food item you ate for the first time on a holiday? Can you find a product with an intriguing sustainability element (plant based candy?)? Bring your bag and your item to Sunrise Bread Company.
Following our shopping adventure, it’s on to Sunrise Bread Company for a delicious selection of fresh scones, muffins, and breakfast treats. Purchase your bakery treat and head upstairs. As we recharge, we’ll also be fueling our conversation with all things nature! Come chat about wildlife conservation efforts, share your favorite outdoor experiences, exchange travel stories, and get inspired by the beauty of the world around us. Plus, you will learn the connection between birds and Brekkie.
Let us know you’ll be coming RSVP for Bags and Brekkie
Itinerary:
0900 Meet at Winn-Dixie, 1564 Harrison St, Titusville FL
0920 Travel to Sunrise Bread Co, 315 S Hopkins Ave, Titusville, FL
0945 Enjoy conversations about travel, wildlife, nature and Brekkie

July 2024 Community Fundraiser with Winn Dixie
2024-07-01 08:00 - 2024-07-31 17:00 | Winn Dixie, 1564 Harrison St, Titusville, FL, 32780, United States
Merritt Island Wildlife Association has been selected as a Community Bag Program Nonprofit Partner! Our organization will receive $1 for each $2.99 reusable Community Bag sold during the month of July 2024 at: 1564 Harrison Street, Titusville FL. Even if this is not your regular grocery store, everyone can always use a sustainable, reusable shopping bag, so pop into Winn Dixie on Harrison St in Titusville for your benefit, as well as MIWA’s! Thank you for your support!

Storytelling and Author Meet-n-Greet with Jennifer Penello
2024-06-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center, 1987 Scrub Jay Way, Titusville, FL, 32782, United States
Planteo and Fungiette – a science tale about accepting differences and cooperating to survive. Enjoy learning about a special friendship between a plant and a fungi.
Come meet Jennnifer Penello, author of Planteo and Fungiette, a naturalist’s tale of how Planteo, a growing flower, and Fungiette, a developing mushroom, resolve a rivalry between plants and fungi for the forest floor. As the story unfolds, the unique qualities of plants and fungi are explained and celebrated. These characteristics are then combined in the give-and-take lifestyle of lichens. Reading Planteo and Fungiette with young children illustrates the beauty of cooperation and sharing in both nature and real life.
This will be the perfect outing to keep children and grandchildren engaged in reading over summer vacation. Autographed copies of the author’s book will be available for purchase and anyone purchasing a book will receive a special discount in our Nature’s Treasure’s Gift Shop.

Invasive Species Talk with Sarah
2024-06-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center, 1987 Scrub Jay Way, Titusville, FL, 32782, United States
Cuban tree frogs, rock agamas, and curly tailed lizards, oh my!
See these species up close and in real life and learn how each species came to Florida, their habitats, life spans, and how each affect the ecosystems they live in, here in Florida.

Lager for Loggerheads
2024-06-25 16:00 - 18:30 | Playalinda Brewery Hardware Store, 305 S Washington Ave, Titusville, 32796, United States
Raffle Prize drawings at 5pm and 6pm
Crave conservation with a brew? Join us for Lager for Loggerheads! This fun event at Playalinda Brewery Hardware Store will raise a glass to loggerhead shrikes and loggerheads turtles. Learn about these fascinating creatures and the importance of habitat preservation through engaging hands-on activities. Participate in nature-themed games while picking up fun facts about our flippered and feathered friends. All evening, raise a pint and sip for a cause. A portion of the special species craft beer will be donated to Merritt Island Wildlife Association to support wildlife conservation efforts.
Come thirsty for knowledge, it’ll be a fintastic and feathery good time!

Pel-i-can Picnic
2024-06-21 11:30 - 12:30 | F. Burton Smith Park, 7575 W King Street, Cocoa, FL, 32926, United States
Kindly register here
Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) invites you to our Pel-i-Can Picnic. Bring your picnic lunch and join us for an afternoon of learning about recycling and sustainability. Keep Brevard Beautiful (KBB) will provide an overview of their programs and lead us in eco-friendly activities, including Recycling BINGO. Kevin Smith, Recycling Coordinator, Brevard County Solid Waste Management Department will be our human Recyclopedia to provide tips on what is recyclable and what is not.
Registration is kindly requested. Open to all ages. Families/groups are welcome.
Enter our contest for a chance to win planet friendly prizes by packing a sustainable picnic lunch. Bees wax wraps, Tupperware sandwich dishes, cloth napkins, reusable silverware, refillable water bottles and any use of solar can all help you win the contest. Be creative and go green.
Can I recycle this?? Bring any item you have a ‘recycle yes or recycle no’ question about to be entered in our raffle prize drawing. KBB’s mascot Pel-i-Can may drop by to say hello and offer some recycling advice.

Grabbers for Gowlers
2024-06-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Blackpoint Wildlife Drive
Sign Up At: https://bit.ly/grabbersforgrowlers

Join us for Grabbers for Growlers, a fun-ﬁlled service project dedicated to cleaning up our beloved natural spaces as part of the Adopt-An-Area program. Merritt Island Wildlife Association and Playalinda Brewery are teaming up to clean up Areas 10 and 11 on Black Point Wildlife Drive, along with the horseshoe crab beach on West Gator Creek Road.
Gather your friends, rub on some sunscreen, and get ready to make a diﬀerence. We’ll be wielding grabber tools like eco-ninja, conquering litter so it doesn’t become troublesome for the wildlife who call the Refuge home. But wait, there’s more! After a successful clean-up mission, we will gather at Playalinda Brewery Hardware Store location to quench your thirst with some refreshing craft brews (beers and root beer) and a delicious lunch. Reﬁll a Growler or purchase one to go to be entered in our special sustainability raﬄe drawing.
It’s the perfect way to get to know the tap room team, celebrate giving back to nature, and converse with fellow nature enthusiasts. Are you ready to grab some trash and tip some growlers? Register today for Grabbers for Growlers and let’s make a positive impact on our community, one piece of litter at a time!
Itinerary:

0900 Meet in the parking area by the restroom stop on Black Point Wildlife Drive (approx. 3.5 miles from the entrance). Sign in and receive clean up supplies.
0915 Drive to Adopt-An-Area #10. Pick up litter between Areas 10 and 11.
1000 Depart Black Point Wildlife Area and travel to West Gator Creek Road (park near the kiosk).
1015 Clean up the horseshoe crab sandy beach shoreline and ‘deep clean’ under the mangroves.
1115 Collect all trash bags and supplies.
1130 Travel to Playalinda Brewery Hardware Store, 305 S. Washington Ave, Titusville 32796.
1200 Enjoy lunch (provided by MIWA and Playalinda Brewery) and comradery.

June 2024 Butterfly Walk
2024-06-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Sams House, Pine Island, 6195 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, United States
Butterfly Walks are Back!
Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) and Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program invite you to our Spring Series of Butterfly Walks (Photo Credit Ed Perry)
Flutter with excitement! Join us for a fascinating exploration of the butterfly life cycle and the importance of native plants. Our program will start with a short education session to learn butterfly basics including differences between skippers, swallowtail and whites/yellows. The education session will include photographs of butterflies commonly seen in our area along with some tips on how to enjoy butterfly watching. Following the presentation, we will visit the native plant gardens to look for butterflies and their host plants. No prior knowledge or skill is required. All ages welcome. We will have the following resources available to use while exploring in the gardens: butterfly checklists, field guides to reference for identifications, and folding guides with butterfly images. Our Gift Shops will have butterfly resources available for sale if you want to take a book or guide home to practice.
Home school groups – Meetup limits registration online to 5 guests. Please note in the event comments the total number of students and parents that will be attending if there will be more than 6 in your group.
Sams House at Pine Island , 6195 N Tropical Trail · Merritt Island, FL. Meet near the Pioneer House (log cabin)
About our instructor (Ed Perry):
Ed Perry recently retired as a 32-year Park Ranger at Sebastian Inlet State Park. He enjoys fishing, butterfly gardening, growing & grafting tropical fruit trees, beachcombing (for sea-beans!), tropical fish aquaria, wildlife photography, and sharing life with his twenty-four-year-old daughter Gayle (single father). Ed is a 56 year-old Florida native that graduated from the University of Florida in 1988. In his retired life he became interested in being involved in butterfly counts and protecting tracts of native, wild lands within our beautiful state of Florida.

Puzzles and Pies - Piece Together Nature's Wonders, One Slice at a Time
2024-05-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center, 1987 Scrub Jay Way, Titusville, FL, 32782, United States
Puzzles and Pie – Piece Together Nature’s Wonders, One Slice at a Time, Wed, May 29, 2024, 1:00 PM | Meetup
Join us for an afternoon of piecing together nature’s wonders and wildlife conservation!
Put your puzzle-solving skills to the test while conversing with fellow nature lovers. Tackle intriguing nature-themed puzzles in small groups, then gather for a delicious pie break featuring apple, cherry, french silk, key lime, and many more!
This event is more than just fun and pie; it’s a chance to celebrate the intricate puzzle of wildlife conservation and support the vital work of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your mind, savor sweet treats, and support the protection of wildlife habitats.
The program is free. Registration is kindly requested to enable us to plan puzzle spaces and pie count.
Puzzles and Pie – Piece Together Nature’s Wonders, One Slice at a Time, Wed, May 29, 2024, 1:00 PM | Meetup
Please send questions to miwascrubjay@gmail.com.

May 2024 Butterfly Walk
2024-05-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Brevard County Enchanted Forest, 444 Columbia Blvd, Titusville, FL, 32780, United States
Butterfly walks are back!
Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) and Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program invite you to our Spring Series of Butterfly Walks (Photo Credit Ed Perry)
Flutter with excitement! Join us for a fascinating exploration of the butterfly life cycle and the importance of native plants. Our program will start with a short education session to learn butterfly basics including differences between skippers, swallowtail and whites/yellows. The education session will include photographs of butterflies commonly seen in our area along with some tips on how to enjoy butterfly watching. Following the presentation, we will visit the native plant gardens to look for butterflies and their host plants. No prior knowledge or skill is required. All ages welcome. We will have the following resources available to use while exploring in the gardens: butterfly checklists, field guides to reference for identifications, and folding guides with butterfly images. Our Gift Shops will have butterfly resources available for sale if you want to take a book or guide home to practice.
Home school groups – Meetup limits registration online to 5 guests. Please note in the event comments the total number of students and parents that will be attending if there will be more than 6 in your group.
Brevard County Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
444 Columbia Blvd · Titusville, FL

How to find us: Meet inside the Nature Center

About our instructor (Ed Perry):
Ed Perry recently retired as a 32-year Park Ranger at Sebastian Inlet State Park. He enjoys fishing, butterfly gardening, growing & grafting tropical fruit trees, beachcombing (for sea-beans!), tropical fish aquaria, wildlife photography, and sharing life with his twenty-four-year-old daughter Gayle (single father). Ed is a 56 year-old Florida native that graduated from the University of Florida in 1988. In his retired life he became interested in being involved in butterfly counts and protecting tracts of native, wild lands within our beautiful state of Florida.

"Florida's Living Beaches": Author Meet & Greet with Book Signing
2024-04-27 10:00 - 13:00 | Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center, 1987 Scrub Jay Way, Titusville, FL, 32782, United States
Authors Blair and Dawn Witherington will be at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) Visitor’s Center, for a Meet & Greet and Book Signing for their highly acclaimed book, Florida’s Living Beaches. Book signing and meet & greet will be at 10am. If you purchase a copy of Florida’s Living Beaches at this event, you will receive 10% off your total purchase at MIWA’s Nature’s Treasures Gift Shop, located inside the MINWR Visitor’s Center.
The first edition of Florida’s Living Beaches (2007) was widely praised. Now, the second edition of this supremely comprehensive guide has even more to satisfy the curious beachcomber, including expanded content and additional accounts with more than 1800 full-color photographs, maps and illustrations.
It heralds the living things and metaphorical life along the state’s 700 miles of sandy beaches. The expanded second edition now identifies and explains over 1400 curiosities, with lavishly illustrated accounts organized into Beach Features, Beach Animals, Beach Plants, Beach Minerals and Hand of Man.

April 2024 Butterfly Walk
2024-04-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Sams House, Pine Island, 6195 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, United States
Butterfly Walks are Back!
Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) and Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program invite you to our Spring Series of Butterfly Walks
Flutter with excitement! Join us for a fascinating exploration of the butterfly life cycle and the importance of native plants. Our program will start with a short education session to learn butterfly basics including differences between skippers, swallowtail and whites/yellows. The education session will include photographs of butterflies commonly seen in our area along with some tips on how to enjoy butterfly watching. Following the presentation, we will visit the native plant gardens to look for butterflies and their host plants. No prior knowledge or skill is required. All ages welcome. We will have the following resources available to use while exploring in the gardens: butterfly checklists, field guides to reference for identifications, and folding guides with butterfly images. Our Gift Shops will have butterfly resources available for sale if you want to take a book or guide home to practice.
Home school groups – Meetup limits registration online to 5 guests. Please note in the event comments the total number of students and parents that will be attending if there will be more than 6 in your group.
Sams House at Pine Island , 6195 N Tropical Trail · Merritt Island, FL. Meet near the Pioneer House (log cabin)
About our instructor (Ed Perry):
Ed Perry recently retired as a 32-year Park Ranger at Sebastian Inlet State Park. He enjoys fishing, butterfly gardening, growing & grafting tropical fruit trees, beachcombing (for sea-beans!), tropical fish aquaria, wildlife photography, and sharing life with his twenty-four-year-old daughter Gayle (single father). Ed is a 56 year-old Florida native that graduated from the University of Florida in 1988. In his retired life he became interested in being involved in butterfly counts and protecting tracts of native, wild lands within our beautiful state of Florida.

National Gopher Tortoise Day: Scrub Hike
2024-04-10 09:00 - 10:30 | Scrub Ridge Trail, MINWR
Details

Event is being co-hosted by Space Coast Audubon and Merritt Island Wildlife Association
Gopher Tortoise Day
April 10th was officially adopted by the Gopher Tortoise Council as Gopher Tortoise Day! In Florida, gopher tortoises are found in parts of all 67 counties and are frequently encountered in neighborhoods, along roadways, and in many of Florida’s public parks and forests. The goal of Gopher Tortoise Day is to increase awareness and appreciation for these long lived, gentle reptiles.
Join us for a Scrub Hike to learn about scrub plants and the wildlife that reside in this habitat, including Gopher Tortoises and the Florida Scrub Jay.
Scrub Ridge Trail hike (field trip – walking)
This trail is a 0.9-mile loop and considered to be an easy hike. It is flat and has almost no shade. We’ll walk for approx. 45 to 60 minutes in hopes of seeing gopher tortoises and Florida Scrub Jays. Along the trail we will stop periodically for our trip leaders to share information about native plants found in the scrub and the significance of Gopher Tortoises as a keystone species. Depending on our observations, we may travel to a second location nearby to observe a grouping of active gopher tortoise burrows.
Following our hike we will gather at Sendler Education Outpost (large, open air pavilion with picnic tables) to enjoy a group picnic and receive Gopher Tortoise activity kits. To add to the fun, we will have some Gopher Tortoise themed engagement prizes to encourage attendees to ask questions, share learnings, and participate in activities.
What to bring: water, snack, binoculars (let us know if you need to borrow a pair), bug repellent, sun protection and picnic lunch.
Suggestions for the best comfort: wear closed toed shoes (no flip flops), long pants, and a good sun protection hat.
What’s provided: Gopher Tortoise activity kits, snacks, and raffle prizes.
Logistics:
Please park at the entrance to Scrub Ridge Trail inside the Merritt Island NWR. You can get a map of the Refuge at the Visitor Center (located 3.5 miles from the Max Brewer Bridge) or view the cutout section in the photo gallery on Meetup. There are limited parking spaces, so please park to make maximum use of the dirt parking area or consider carpooling from the visitor center. Some vehicles may need to park along the road to the Scrub Ridge Trail. This trail does not have any restrooms. Flush toilets are available at the Visitor Center.
Sendler Education Outpost (lunch location) has lots of parking and two entrance gates. There are vault toilet restrooms by the pavilion. Use of the pavilion is provided by Special Use Permit.
About Our Leaders:
Paul Schmalzer, PhD is a plant ecologist. He recently retired from his role with the Integrated Mission Support Services at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. His research interests include: effects of fire on vegetation and soils, restoration of scrub ecosystems, distribution of rare scrub plants, and composition and dynamics of barrier island plant communities. Dr. Schmalzer serves on the Board of Directors of the Sea Rocket Native Plant Society.
Gráinne O’Grady earned her Masters of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University. She has served in roles as an Avian Technician, Wildlife Techniques Teaching Assistant, and a Museum Technician. Gráinne is passionate about wildlife biology, wildlife ecology, Ornithology, Wildlife Habitat Management, human dimensions of wildlife, and Museum Collections.

Seafood for Our Shorelines @ Dixie Crossroads Restaurant
2024-04-02 17:00 - 20:00 | Dixie Crossroads, 1475 Garden St, Titusville, FL, 32796, United States
Join Merritt Island Wildlife Association for a delicious meal at World Famous Dixie Crossroads in Titusville, FL, on Tuesday April 2, 2024. The restaurant will donate 10% of all food purchases to help us preserve shorelines, wetlands, salt marsh, and other vital habitat at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
MIWA will have displays, educational material and raffles–come join the fun!

Happy Hour for Habitat at Playalinda Brewery
2024-03-26 17:00 - 19:00 | Playalinda Brewery Hardware Store, 305 S Washington Ave, Titusville, 32796, United States
Following up on the huge success of “Beer with a Biologist”, Merritt Island Wildlife Association will again be partnering with Playalinda Brewing Co. for “Happy Hour for Habitat” at the Playalinda Hardware Store location. Learn about the variety of habitat at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and enter free raffles for wildlife and habitat merchandise. Featured beer will be the Scrub Jay brew.

MIWA at Thousand Islands Festival
2024-03-16 10:30 - 18:00 | Cocoa Beach Country Club Pool Pavilion, 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931, United States
MIWA will have a booth at the 2024 Thousand Islands Fest at Cocoa Beach Country Club Pool Pavilion on Saturday March 16, 2024, from 10:30am-6:00pm.
You won’t want to miss Laurilee Thompson’s (MIWA Board of Directors Vice President) talk, “The Importance of Estuarine Shoreline” at 2:15pm. Mark your calendar now!
