A long-time tradition in the Cape paying homage and educating the public on Cape Coral’s official city bird takes place this weekend.

The 21st Annual Burrowing Owl Festival — Wildlife & Environmental Expo, put on by the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and city Parks and Recreation Department, takes place this Saturday at Rotary Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The day offers educational programs, live animal exhibits, food, access to the butterfly house and bus tours to nearby owl burrows. Parks and Recreation will host a FUN-Mobile at the festival, offering free activities for children. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under.

“We have burrowing owl buses, animals from Adam’s Animal Encounters, speakers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Calusa Waterkeepers, face painting and owl pellet dissection in the Children’s Corner, music and auction items to explore,” said Event Coordinator Michiale Schneider. “There is something for everyone!”

Festival highlights will include environmental and wildlife organizations with educational exhibits and live animals, informative burrowing owl exhibits, presentations by environmental and wildlife speakers, live Florida animal presentations, tours of the park’s butterfly house, flora and fauna tours of the park, and owl and photography bus tours in Cape Coral. It takes more than 200 volunteers to make this event possible.

Schneider said, “We survey attendees each year and the number one reason for attending the festival is to learn about and see burrowing owls. As we know, they are a threatened species in the state of Florida and were heavily impacted and displaced during Hurricane Ian, as they’re the only owl in the world to live underground. The Cape Coral community is very protective of these little ones and realizes their uniqueness is a huge draw in bringing tourists — and their dollars — to Cape Coral.”

The Cape is home to the largest known population of the Florida burrowing owl, which is now a threatened species. These pint-sized birds burrow underground where they nest from early February through mid-July. The constant development in one of the fastest-growing cities in the country is impacting the habitats of these friendly birds.

“Aside from the fact that they’re a threatened species, they indirectly generate significant revenue for the city by attracting tourists and photographers,” Schneider said. “As a nature photographer, these are among my most favorite subjects to photograph.”

An FWC survey showed “wildlife viewing is the second most popular outdoor recreation activity in Florida” — even more than golfing and fishing. Only beach-going ranked higher. CCFW and its members do their best to preserve the habitats of these creatures and want to continue to see people visit and come to Florida to enjoy wildlife.

“Education is the first step to protecting and preserving all wildlife, especially our beloved burrowing owls,” Schneider said. “If we don’t protect our wildlife and find a way to coexist in harmony, we run the risk of losing the very reason people flock to Southwest Florida. We have a responsibility to protect and preserve the environment to which we humans have been entrusted.”

Rotary Park is at 5505 Rose Garden Road.

For more information on CCFW, visit ccfriendsofwildlife.org.

Bird watching tour

Ride in an air-conditioned bus with expert birder/photographers Tammy and Dave McQuade and Eary Warren. The tour is offered by Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife in conjunction with the 21st Annual Burrowing Owl Festival – Wildlife & Environmental Exposition Saturday, Feb. 25, at Rotary Park in Cape Coral.

The McQuades were high school sweethearts, have been married for 36 years, and are big year birders. They have observed over 700 species of birds in the U.S. in each of the last four years. Dave now holds the distinction of being number 1 on eBird, having the most species ever photographed in the US: 877.

In addition, the couple administers the SW Florida Bird Alert Group on Facebook, and Dave is on the board of the American Birding Association. They love to share about their birding experiences and help other birders.

Florida native and Cape Coral resident Eary Warren has a great passion for the outdoors. His love of wildlife started at a young age and has stayed with him throughout his life. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of Florida flora and fauna with everyone he meets. In 2019 Warren and his wife Jennifer set the Florida state “Big Year” record for most bird species seen in one year. They accomplished this feat while working full-time with two children. Warren also holds the Lee County “Big Day” record. He is an administrator of SW Florida Bird Alert on Facebook. He can often be found with his binoculars and camera in one of Lee County’s many great parks.

CCFW online auction

The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife online auction is under way and runs until 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26, with proceeds going to Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, Inc., in order to support its mission. CCFW is dedicated to the protection, preservation and education of wildlife, especially threatened species. Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways to donated items guaranteed to delight and surprise.

To view items for auction and bid, visit biddingforgood.com.