Make plans to celebrate the rush of migrating wings north along the Atlantic Flyway over inland Pasco, Citrus, and Hernando counties during the inaugural Nature Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival.

Formerly known as the Chinsegut Birding and Wildlife Festival, the weekend of March 22-24 will feature a variety of programs, activities and tours at several preserves in the tri-county area, including Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail sites Crews Lake Park, Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park on the Pithlachascotee River, Fort Cooper State Park and the Withlacoochee State Forest.

Sebring, Florida-- This Saturday, September 29, is National Public Lands Day- a day when nearly 50 state parks will host events for volunteers to join in the efforts made to keep Florida's natural areas healthy and clean.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service and the Friends of Florida State Parks, Inc. will focus this year's events on supporting Florida’s public lands, encouraging citizens to spend more time outdoors and visiting state parks to enjoy a more healthy and active life style.

The Citrus, Hernando and Pasco County Offices of Tourism Development are promoting the Nature Coast the old fashioned way, by word-of-mouth.

A week-long trip from May 19-26, called the “Nature Coast” FAM Tour, is designed for outdoor/travel writers to experience some of Florida’s best attractions.

The six journalists, who have been published in many notable publications including Alaska Airlines, Southern Living, and Gonomad.com among others, will travel from as far away as California, Oregon and Massachusetts.