Bay County Audubon Society’s - Nature Connection 2024 Program - Features Safari Guide and Emperor Penguin Expert

PANAMA CITY, FL - Bay County Audubon Society will celebrate its “Nature Connection 2024” Program main event on April 6 at the Holley Center, FSU PC campus. Keynote speaker is safari guide and naturalist Tom Nkwazi,

“Big Tom” as he is known in his native country of Botswana, Africa. He is a fully-licensed professional safari guide of more than 15 years. Also scheduled to present is Noah Strycker, who has extensively studied birds and lived with penguins, as his authorship of six books will attest. Both presenters will tell you their personal stories of what they are observing and learning about the current state of nature in our changing world.

Big Tom currently guides in the northern part of Botswana, in the Okavango Delta, close to Chobe National Park (home to 100,000 plus elephants) and world-famous Victoria Falls in nearby Zimbabwe. A quick google search (replete with National Geographic videos) will reveal the magic of the Okavango Delta.

Big Tom brings a unique source of knowledge about Wild Africa, offering us a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to learn about the environmental issues facing the shrinking African natural habitat. The iconic image of Africa is perhaps best revealed by the fauna and flora of the Serengeti, host to elephants, lions, wildebeest, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, acacia trees, and exotic birds, to name a few, a migration wonder of the natural world. His message will include discussion of issues with far-reaching consequences about status of species and their shrinking habitat.

We are indeed fortunate to have Noah Strycker back again to present after he headlined our “Nature Connection 2022” Program. At that event Noah delivered a standing-ovation presentation about his around-the-world birding odyssey in 2015 during which he visited 41 countries, all seven continents, identifying a record-setting 6,042 bird species. He hasn’t slowed down much since then, as you will discover at the Program. He has visited the Arctic and Antarctica numerous times, compiling a vast knowledge of these regions via on-site experience and scientific studies.

This time, Noah will update us on his current area of intense nature focus, the status of the Emperor Penguin in Antarctica. Recent scientific reporting suggests Emperor Penguin populations are suffering serious survival issues due to accelerating melting sea ice (their chicks can only hatch on ice). He will relate his recent experiences living with Emperor Penguin colonies.

Noah will once again visit many of our local schools to give an updated educational program about penguins and nature to new groups of kids eager to learn more about these incredibly-cute, and important, birds. Big Tom will also be speaking at local schools about the African story.

We are all indeed fortunate to have these two naturalists to be here with us to present a treasure trove of nature information about how things are going in the real world of nature. To participate, consider attending and donating through our tickets on sale.

Depending on the type of ticket (level of donation) purchased to attend the April 6 main event, there are available several enhancements to the main Program presentations. These may include a “Meet and Greet” with our two speakers, a catered buffet, string quartet, the North Bay Haven High School “Choralaires”, and art and photo exhibits. General Admission is $30 for the presentations starting at 6:30 pm.

To buy tickets, or get more information, see www.baycountyaudubon.org. Please go to “Contact” and leave a message with phone, name and email. The website has complete details on the Program - scroll down to “Special Events”, then click on “Nature Connection 2024”.

Proceeds go to the Bay Education Foundation, which funds grants to public school/charter teachers who apply for nature-related classroom projects. Also, part of the proceeds will be directed to a community school where three of Big Tom’s children attend in hometown Kazungula, Botswana.

Notice: Bay County Audubon Society is a 501(C)(3) corporation, with DTN 3773748 and License # CH52150. A copy of the Official Registration and Financial Information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 within the State or at www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State of Florida.