Explore Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West with Audubon Everglades

Join Audubon Everglades Field Guide Jim Howe for an exciting, educational driving tour through Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West — a vital piece of Everglades restoration and one of South Florida’s best-kept birding secrets. This event is made possible through our ongoing partnership with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and it’s designed to do more than showcase great birds — it’s a chance to see Everglades restoration science in action and understand why this landscape matters.

Why STAs Matter
Stormwater Treatment Areas are large constructed wetlands built to remove excess phosphorus from water before it reaches the Everglades. As water moves slowly through dense stands of native vegetation, plants absorb nutrients from agricultural and stormwater runoff, cleaning the water before it continues south into the Everglades Protection Area. Over the past two decades, this network of STAs has cut phosphorus levels in Everglades-bound water by roughly 80%, making it one of the most effective restoration tools ever built. Beyond water quality, these constructed wetlands have become thriving habitat in their own right — supporting wading birds, waterfowl, and raptors, and offering some of the best birding in South Florida.

Why This Partnership Is Unique
SFWMD manages these treatment areas as working infrastructure, not public parkland, so access is normally limited. Our partnership gives Audubon Everglades members a rare chance to get out onto the levees of an active restoration site and see firsthand how engineered wetlands are protecting the Everglades — all while exploring habitat that’s otherwise closed to the public. It’s a hands-on opportunity to connect the dots between water management, habitat, and the birds we love, and to help us spread that story to the broader community.

What to Expect
Participants will follow a caravan along the levees, stopping at multiple locations to observe and photograph birds and wildlife. This is not a walking tour — all observation happens from vehicles or at brief stops nearby. Target species may include Fulvous and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Roseate Spoonbills, Purple Gallinules, Limpkins, Northern Harriers, American White Pelicans, King Rails, Soras, and occasionally rarities such as Western Kingbirds, Lincoln’s Sparrows, Painted Buntings, or Smooth-billed Anis.

Marcus and Kyle will help participants identify birds along the way and share insight into their behavior, calls, and habitat use — turning every stop into a mini lesson in Everglades ecology.

Event Details
• This is a carpool driving tour with 4 people per vehicle, including the driver.
• Check-In Time: 7:00 AM
• Start Time: 7:30 AM
• This tour starts promptly at 7:30 AM and gates will be closed — no exceptions. Please allow enough travel time to arrive by 7:00 AM.
• Restrooms: None available at STA 1W

• Ages: 12 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
• Difficulty: All skill levels are welcome — whether you’re new to birding or an experienced birder, this trip is designed for you.
• Accessibility: Fully accessible from vehicles; some stops have levee edges for scope setup but do not require walking
• Terrain: Unpaved, dirt roads that can be muddy, uneven, and pitted with potholes
• Vehicle Requirements: High clearance, good tires, full tank of gas
• Trail Length: Approximately 6–10 miles of slow caravan driving with frequent stops
• Drivers: Register as “Driver. Passengers: Register as “Passenger” and indicate your driver during registration. If you do not have a driver, we will assign you one the day of the event.

•Directions will be emailed to you along with your tickets. Save that email for important information about your tour.

Additional information about your tour:

Carpools

Carpools will be assigned the day of the event. If you are a driver, have your car ready to fit at lest 3 more people. If you are a passenger, you will caravan in any car with space available. We are not able to accommodate requests to be placed in a specific car or matched with a driver after registration. Our agreement with SFWMD sets a fixed number of vehicles and participants, and we cannot add additional cars under any circumstances.

No walk-ins allowed — registration is mandatory.
Space on this tour is extremely limited. To give as many members as possible the chance to experience this trip, we ask that participants register for up to three STA driving tours per season. If you’ve already attended a recent STA tour, please consider stepping back so others on the waitlist can go. We may need to prioritize first-time participants if demand exceeds capacity.

Required Release Form

Submission of the required documentation is mandatory.

Submit your SFWMD release form to https://auduboneverglades-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/clara_auduboneverglades_org/IgC25Vn8jF7vT45c-J7Ekx6ZAZUic9hd4iDC1WHKVPgFQt8

Waivers must be fully completed—including location, date, and all required fields—and signed with a wet or verified electronic signature; typed names are not accepted. Audubon Everglades reserves the right to refuse or remove any participant who fails to submit or properly complete the required paperwork, and may deny access or remove participants at its discretion for safety concerns or non-compliance with tour rules.

Tour Format and Safety
Each vehicle will be issued a radio for consistent communication during the tour. For the safety of all participants and to protect the integrity of the land, everyone must stay on the designated route at all times. Do not stray from the path or leave the caravan unless instructed by a trip leader.

eBird and Photography
A shared eBird list will be provided. By signing the Audubon Everglades consent form, you agree your photo may be taken and shared on AE’s social media. Prefer not to be photographed? Let us know in advance. Share your photos and tag us: @AudubonEverglades.

Important Reminders
• No drones, glass, alcohol, or littering. Space is limited — please cancel if you cannot attend. The caravan is led by SFWMD; all participants must exit the STA once the tour concludes.
• Listen to and follow the instructions of the Field Trip Leader. Do not walk ahead of the leader.
• Be respectful of your fellow participants.
• Avoid flushing birds: close car doors gently, do not slam doors, and minimize loud noises.
• Maintain a safe distance to avoid disturbing the birds. If a bird is flushed, do not chase it.
• Please follow the ABA standards of ethical birding and photography.•