This presentation of the Citrus County Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail would not have been possible without the help and commitment to the project of many people:

  • Sam Lyons, Chairman of the Citrus County Eco-Tourism Committee, who spearheaded this project.
  • Mary Craven, Citrus County Tourism Development Manager, for assistance and support from the beginning and throughout this project.
  • Dean Rusk and Steve Clardy from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and Gary Maidhof and Marie Pietrucha from the Citrus County GIS Department for their help with ARCGis mapping tips.
  • Susan Dougherty, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, coordinator for the Great Florida Birding Trail, Citrus County Section.
  • Rolf Auermann, for creating all ARCGis Trail maps and building our award-winning web site.
  • Bill Garvin, for his outstanding photographs.
  • Matt Clemens, for the section on canoe / kayaking.
  • Irene Shea, editor of this guide.
  • Gary W. Maidhof, for obtaining the trail sign posts donated by Citrus County Government and for his support.
  • Cynthia Thibedeau, for assistance with designing the Citrus County Hotspot signs.
  • Chris Lynhart, for trail signs donated by SWFWMD
  • Julie Brashears, Birding Trail Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for support and assistance during this project.

Citrus county did not have any reliable birding census. In fall of 1999, Dick Blewett decided to recruit 22 experienced birders (listed below), who would be able to access the database and record their data by trail, bird species, bird count and much more. The 3 year bird sensus was conducted between January , 2000 through December, 2002. Click here for a condensed 3 year summary of the census.


  • Jim and Teddy Bierly
  • Dick Blewett
  • Seth Blitch
  • Jack and Pat Casselberry
  • Elaine and Tony Chipurn
  • Chip Cunningham
  • Emily Casey
  • Marilyn Dietz
  • Murray Gardler
  • Al and Bev Hanson
  • Linn Hartway
  • Barry Johnson
  • Joyce Kirchner
  • Al and Joan Lippman
  • Bob North
  • Bob Northrup
  • Gerry Auermann
  • Sperry Rodamaker
  • Tommie Rogers
  • Effie and Mike Smith
  • Betty Smith
  • Ken Spilos

  • Mickey Thomason and Chris McKendree, Office of Greenways and Trails
  • Ellie Schiller, Felburn Foundation
  • Matt Clemons and Seth Blitch, Crystal River Buffer Preserve
  • Tom Linley, Susan Dougherty, Nick Robbins and Harry Mitchell, Florida Park Service.
  • Elizabeth Souheaver, Jim Kraus, and Joyce Kleen, National Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Wilber Priest, Vince Morris, Wendell Vaught, Florida Division of Forestry.
  • Colleen Kruk, Chris Lynhart and Dave Morgan, Southwest Florida Water Management District.
  • Susan Metcalf and Rafael Del Valle, Citrus County