A bald eagle whose broken wing was successfully treated at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was released into the wild Thursday at Mediterra, the Bonita Bay Group development in which the injured bird was found. The release comes after a dramatic rescue Feb. 7 by the Conservancy and Mediterra employees and residents and almost five months of recovery at the rehabilitation center. Now, almost five months after the bird's ordeal began, it is healthy and free to resume its normal life. Bonita Bay Group is developing Mediterra with the same commitment to meticulous planning, environmental stewardship, integrity and attention to detail that is evident at its flagship community, Bonita Bay.

Birdfest is the kickoff of a two-month-long celebration of birds in Lee County Parks and Conservation 20/20 Preserves. The islands of Lakes Park will be teeming with anhinga, great egrets, little blue herons, tricolored herons and white ibis at various stages of mating, nest building, and raising young. Canoe tours, guided land tours, tips on nature photography and backyard habitat will be offered, 7:30a.m.-noon, free admission. Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Dr., south Ft. Myers. Birdpatrol.org

The Orange River was one of Florida's first rivers to be officially meandered by state surveyors documenting navigable waterways. In pioneer days it was commercially important as a shipping lane for the citrus industry, from which its name was derived. These days the Orange is known for the power plant effluent that attracts manatees, snook, and tarpon to its unnaturally warm waters.

Friday Paddle: Lee County Park & Recreation is offering a new, one-way paddling tour on the Orange River, from Buckingham Road downstream to Manatee Park. A short paddling clinic at 8:30am will be followed by a caravan to the launch point four miles up the river, for a three-hour paddle back to the park. Only $35.00.

More info: Call 690-5030

It is not too late to celebrate Florida Hiking Trails Month, in fact we are entering the best time of the year to hike in Florida; the trails are the driest and mosquitoes are the scarcest.

1. Black Island Trail
2. Bowditch Point Regional Park Walking Trails
3. Buckingham Community Park Trails
4. Catfish Creek Trail
5. Cayo Costa State Park Hiking Trails
6. Estero Bay Preserve State Park Hiking Trails
7. Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
8. Gasparilla Island State Park Hiking Trails
9. Koreshan State Historic Site Hiking Trails
10. Little Pine Island High Marsh Trail
11. Lovers Key State Park Hiking Trails
12. North Colonial Linear Park
13. Old Datsun Trail
14. Three Oaks Park Walking Path

One of the youngest chapters of the Florida Trail Association, the Alligator Amblers bring together hikers in Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties with outdoor recreation activities in our region and around the state. The chapter offers a diverse slate of activities, from explorations of trails through-out the three-county region to in-the-field photography, workshops and getaway weekends to other parts of the state for education and water-based recreation. For more information, contact Chapter Chair:

Carlos Schomaker - 239 415 7795 - cschomaker@juno.com