Ferrell Outdoors

10/04/2025

10/04/2025

Safety on the trail is essential. Starting with a plan before you go is a great start.

Safe in the Woods Guide Workbook: 20 Easy to Learn Lessons

https://a.co/d/iTAhruO

08/04/2025

Continuing on with the nightjar survey. Last night we made our 10 stops. The areas with housing and open land were void of nightjars. Interestingly enough, the area of Tiger Bay was the destination after the initial first stops. Entering the area devoid of houses there was a chorus of barred owls and CWWs. Beautiful and wonderful. Even spotted CWWs on the rural road. Tonight is overcast with tomorrow evening expected to be the same so will wait until Wednesday night to continue the survey.

06/04/2025

The April 5 evening's Nightjar survey findings were much better than April 4's. On April 4, we were in a residential area with some open land on a perfect summer evening for Florida. On April 5, we were in the rural parts of Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach in Volusia County with the same weather conditions. The area was primarily upland habitat, forested with no development. We made our 10 stops, each stop a 6-minute duration. We heard 2 to 4 Chuck-will's-widows (pictures) each stop! Plus, on our way to each stop, we heard at least one CWW. Adding the amount of CWWs we heard last night, 30+. We saw 2 CWWs land on the gravel road we were on, shout out their Chuck-Will, and then fly close to the ground into the forest. We were not close enough, nor was there enough light for a picture, though we had a bright partial moon. Interestingly enough, our last stop was in a residential area with wooded areas very near to the previous 9 stops, but we did not hear a single CWW. (Picture credit: A. Bose) We heard only 1 Barred Owl, and no other nightjar bird calls were heard.

05/04/2025

Last evening, we started the Nightjar Survey at sundown, covering about 25 linear miles of backroads. We stopped 10 times every mile for 6 minutes each stop to see what we could hear. We stopped a total of 10 times. We heard one Chuck-Will's-Widow (CWW) at most stops, only 2 CWW's at 2 of the stops and several Barred Owls. We did not hear a Night Hawk (pictured; photo credit: Wallace Keck). Our nightjar survey continues this evening.

04/04/2025

Tonight, we begin our participation in the North American Nightjar Survey, starting in the Leesburg area of Lake County, Florida. Nightjars are nocturnal birds, and our primary focus will be on Chuck-will’s-widows, owls and nighthawks. If we’re lucky, we might also hear a Whip-poor-will, along with any other nighttime bird calls.

We’ll be sharing our observations as we go—they should be quite interesting! Sadly, populations of Chuck-will’s-widows have been declining due to habitat loss. These birds migrate south to breed, while Whip-poor-wills, also migratory, only visit our region during the winter. Both species are primarily ground-dwelling birds.

03/04/2025

Latest informational Bulletin 4/3/2025

02/04/2025

Caesar w**d, also known as Congo jute, is thought to have been introduced to the United States in the early 1800s as a fiber crop for rope production. Native to Africa, Asia, and tropical regions, it gradually spread across various parts of the U.S., particularly in the southern states. As synthetic rope materials became more common, the plant lost its agricultural value but became invasive due to its resilience and ability to thrive in disturbed soils. Its hard, abrasive seed clusters easily attach to animal fur, clothing, shoelaces, and other materials, aiding in its spread. To prevent unintentionally transporting its seeds, be sure to check your clothing and footwear after hikes, walks, or other outdoor activities.

01/04/2025

01/04/2025

4/1/2025 Refuge Closure

Informational updates will be posted on this page (link provided in info bulletin below it to this page)

https://www.facebook.com/LakeWoodruffNationalWildlifeRefuge/

31/03/2025

What came first, the caterpillar or the butterfly? Neither, the egg came first. 😉. The Monarch Butterfly is a beautiful orange with the caterpillar being yellow with back lines. We found these two beauties in North DeLand in Florida. There’s a high probability you will find these on trails in Central Florida.

https://ferrelloutdoors.com/guides-and-books

30/03/2025

Did you know that a golf course in Florida and in most states is a great place to see wildlife. This raccoon family was spotted on a golf course in New Smyrna Beach. If you golf, take in the natural surroundings as you aim for your next hole.

29/03/2025

The pygmy rattlesnake is a small venomous pit viper native to the southeastern United States. It primarily inhabits pine forests, swamps, sandhills, and rocky areas, often hiding under leaf litter or logs. This snake has a stout body with a gray, tan, or reddish background color and dark blotches running along its back. Despite its name, its rattle is very small and produces a faint buzzing sound. Pygmy rattlesnakes are ambush predators, feeding on small rodents, frogs, lizards, and insects. They use venom to immobilize prey before swallowing it whole. Their cryptic coloration helps them blend into their surroundings, making them difficult to spot. These snakes are generally solitary and tend to avoid human encounters, but will defend themselves if threatened. Though their venom is potent, and can cause pain and swelling. We usually see them curled up under a tree on top of leaf litter. This one was basking in the sun on a trail at Hontoon Island State Park in DeLand, Florida.

Ferrell Outdoors: ferrelloutdoors.com/guides-and-books

28/03/2025

The marsh rabbit is a small rabbit characterized by its short ears, dark brown fur, and a grayish belly. It is native to the southeastern United States, particularly in coastal and wetland areas such as swamps, marshes, and wet meadows. Unlike other rabbits, it is an excellent swimmer and often escapes predators by diving into the water. Its diet consists of aquatic plants, grasses, sedges, and even bark from woody plants. Primarily nocturnal, the marsh rabbit is most active during dusk and dawn, foraging near water sources. It faces threats from habitat loss, predation by foxes and alligators, and human-related dangers like vehicle collisions. You may see these along trails in Gemini Springs Park located in Debary, Florida.

Find this trail and more in our guides: ferrelloutdoors.com/guides-and-books

27/03/2025

Roger Fulton has been and continues to be our idol. He introduced us to the world of outdoor publishing and nature presentations. He continues to be an inspiration and mentor. His Florida books are listed on our website ferrelloutdoors.com/guides-and-books . Please take a moment to visit to see if one of his books would be ideal for you.