Birding,
Tours and Guides in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys famous for the beauty of its water is one of the top destinations in the world for bird watching. The Florida Keys is also known as an ideal spot to be to viewmigrating birds . Starting in April as migrating birds pass through the Keys on their way up north there are opportunites to see rare and unique bird species. With the warming of temperature many birds will leave the subtropics and migrate to locations in the north. Doves, ruby-throated hummingbirds and perching birds, like redwing blackbirds and many songbirds, will make this annual journey north along with a good number of pelicans.
Florida
Bird Lists on the Web
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r4/flkeys.htm
Wings
Over Florida
A free awards program
open to resident as well as non-resident Florida
birdwatchers. The purpose of the program is to
encourage birders to take their skills to the next level
by identifying as many birds as you can within the state
of Florida.
Awards are given as skill
level increases more and more birds arfe identified.
Color certificates are awarded at five levels starting at
a life list of 50 Florida species (Beginner) and ending
at 350 species (Elite Florida Birder).
Identifying Florida's
many birds is a challenging activity, especially for
those who are just starting out. Begin by ordering
a free application packet (checklist, application sheet,
and "Bird Watching Basics") or you can print this
material online.
Birding
Spots
This page starts out with information on the Dry Tortugas, because of its importance in providing bird watch opportunities. The Dry Tortugas are the southernmost of Florida Keys. The Florida Bay sites which require water access are listed with the Everglade sites.
Otherwise information is provided for sites starting in the Upper Keys and working south to Key West.
There are
a number of good birding spots in the Florida Keys. The
Tortugas, Sandy Key, and the Everglades are perhaps the
best known, but there are many others located throughout
the Keys and Florida Bay. A list of places in Key Largo,
Long Key, Marathon, Pigeon Key, Little Torch Key and Big
Pine, together with information on Tortugas, Florida Bay,
Sandy Key, and the Everglades is provided below:
TORTUGAS
-
The
moat around Fort Jefferson on Garden Key can be
seen through an old gun turret opening of the fort.
Fort
Jefferson on Garden Key
- 305-242-7700 - The Tortugas may be accessed by ferry
from Key West, by plane or boat. From Key West take the
Dry Tortuga Ferry to Fort Jefferson on Garden
Key.
Seagoing birders can view species that can be seen nowhere else in the U.S. at Dry Tortugas National Park. The
Tortugas are small islands 70 miles west of Key West, and
are known for their unique and diverse bird life since
islands and islets lie beneath a major avian flyway from
South America and Cuba to the northern United States and
each spring and fall thousands of migrating birds rest
and recuperate there during their flight between
continents.
The best
time to visit the Tortugas is during migration. The Dry
Tortugas play important role in the migration of birds
between South America and the eastern United States. The Tortugas are the first dry land sighted by birds in this migration. The
spring months of April and May are probably the best,
because there are more birds to be seen and the water is
calmer for sea-travel. Sadly, the Tortugas offer rest but
scant food and water. Many birds perish for lack of food. Birders can hope to see an Antillean shorteared owl, regularly sighted, along with warblers, frigatebirds, peregrine falcons and the ruddy turnstone.
The
islands are home to the only nesting colony of
Magnificent Frigatebirds in North America. The Tortugas
are also home to the largest Sooty Tern colony (100,000
terns) in the Northern Hemisphere. The terns nest on
nearby Bush Key along with some Brown Noddies. Bush Key is the only significant breeding colony of sooty terns in the U.S. From February through August, tens of thousands of terns gather to claim territory and mates. Brown noddies and the occasional black noddie also join the nesting fray. Bush Key
is closed to the public during nesting season each year
from March through September. The thousands of terns
gathered there are hard to miss because of the noise they
make and sight they make when they rise in flight. The
rookery may be observed with binoculars from Fort
Jefferson on nearby Garden Key. On Hospital Key about 2
miles away one sees Masked Boobies, and Long Key is home
to Brown Boobies and frigatebirds. Red-footed boobies are regular visitors. Roseate terns can also be sighted on Hospital Key. Pelagic species like Audubon's shearwaters, band-rumped storm petrels and bridled terns can be veiwed in the channels between islands.
Occasionally
sighted are the white tailed tropic bird, brown and
red-footed boobies, black noddy and roseate tern. April
is a popular time for tours of the Tortugas because of
springtime fallout and trans-gull migrants.
During
the ferry crossing one may see Roseate and Bridled Terns
and Audubon's Shearwater. On towers and navigation buoys
one often sees a Roseate tern.
The fort
on Garden Key was built in the1860s to protect the sea
lanes of the Gulf of Mexico. Today it serves as an oasis
to thousands of migrating
birds.
On
Garden Key there are Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown
Noddies and Sooty Terns. One may also see Warblers,
Golden Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers, possibly a
Gray Kingbird, The Tortugas inevitably produce surprises:
one may see a Short-eared Owl or an American Kestrel
perched in one of the trees of the parade grounds, Cave
Swallows around the fort battlements of the fort,
Double-Crested Commorant, Brown Pelicans, possibly a
Shiny Cowbird and the rare Red-Necked Phalarope may be
observed.
Other
possible shorebirds one may see on the islands around
Fort Jefferson are the Semipalmated Sandpiper,
Black-bellied Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Turnstones, and
Killdeers.
Arrange a
Tour :
1. Yankee
Freedom II Catamaran
Dry
Tortugas Ferry™ at the Key West Docks
Leaves
early in the AM and arrives in the late morning. You'll
have four hours to watch Sooty Terns and Brown Noddys,
and if your lucky you'll spy a Black Noddy or other
rarity. Migrants around Fort Jefferson include thrushes,
buntings, orioles and up to 20 species of
warblers.
2. Victor
Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT: www.ventbird.com), birding
tour group for camping at the Fort or overnight on a
boat, anchored offshore.
3.
Photo gallery
and tour schedule at http://southfloridabirding.com/
Information
and Reservations
Call-
1-305-744-9928
4. Wings Birding
Tours... more than 30 years of worldwide experience ...
South Florida, the Keys and the Dry Tortugas. .
http://www.wingsbirds.com/tours/floridas.htm
EVERGLADES
AND FLORIDA BAY
The
Everglades
Park
(305-242-7700) supports a diverse population of birds and
offers various birding tours, and a number of trails
which can be explored. October through April is a good
time for viewing birds in the Everglades due to the many
types of wintering birds and the reduction of biting
insects. Egrets, herons, ibises, wood storks, Anhingas
and roseate spoonbills can be seen year round, but often
concentrate at small ponds during winter
months.
A Bird
list of Uncommon, Common and Abundant birds for the
Everglades may be obtained at -
http://i-bird.com/Location/FLEvergladesNP.htm
Trails
and Places for viewing birds - Gumbo Limbo Trail ,
Anhinga Trail, Mahogany Hammock, the wet savannas near
Mahogany Hammock for "Cape Sable" Seaside Sparrow,
Paurotis Pond, Nine-Miles Pond to look for Roseate
Spoonbill and American White Pelican, Snake Bight Trail,
Eco Pond, and the Flamingo Campground mudflats to look
for for herons, shorebirds and up to six species of tern
including Gull-billed.
November
through March - During this period it is difficult to
find spoonbills roosting near Flamingo, but they may be
observed flying to inland areas and flying back to
Florida Bay islands to feed their young. They also visit
Mrazek Pond in the Everglades for a brief period during
winter.
In the
Florida
Bay
nesting of most wading birds (Great White Heron, Great
Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Roseate Spoonbill,
White Ibis, Tri-colored Heron), is concentrated primarily
on 3 islands; Tern
Key
in the northeastern Bay, and
Frank
Key
and Sandy
Keys
in the western Bay.
November
through March - In addition to Sandy Key, breeding pairs
of Spoonbills nest on Tern Key, and Joe Key, plus other
islands. The spoonbills leave the islands during the day
and fly to inland feeding areas.
Nesting
of the Great White Heron is distributed over much of the
Bay. Great Blue Herons nest primarily in the western part
of the Bay, singly or in small groups, and are sometimes
found with Great White Herons.
Observers
during the year 2000 in April estimated 200 White Ibis
nests at Frank Key. On Tern Key there were 300 White Ibis
nests, 100 Roseate Spoonbill nests and 100 Great Egrets
nests. Great Egret nests were also seen on
Sandy
Key
and Horseshoe
Key
near Shell Key (off Upper Matecumbe Key) in June.
Arsnicker
Keys
- Arrange with a fishing guide out of Islamorada or
Duck Key to go gunk-holing at Arsnicker Key to see White
Pelicans and occasional nesting Bald Eagle. A guide out
of Duck Key is:
Capt.
Joe Winter - Sightseeing Day Trips
Also
Flats Fishing Guide. Light Tackle and Fly Fishing
Charters for Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Redfish, Snook
and Snapper. Catch them all from the " SKIMMER ".
305-743-7436 Evening live bait Tarpon trips and
Everglades Park Fishing and $ 300 Half Day, $ 400 Full
Day, $ 325/350 Half Day/Night Tarpon. email
winter@marathonkey.com
Sandy
Key
- Sandy Key is located ten miles southwest of
Flamingo. During winter it is a hub of spoonbill
activity. Each evening hundreds of spoonbills roost in
the islands' largest trees. At sunrise depart for the
mainland.
Have a
guide from Marathon, Duck Key or the Everglades take you
to Ross Key to view the diverse bird population at the
sanctuary of Sandy Key.
On
Carl
Ross Key
you'll find a pristine beach of coarsely ground seashells
visited by dozens of sandpipers. Camping on the north end
of Carl Ross is allowed and the Park provides a picnic
table and a primitive sanitation facility. The beach
surrounding red mangrove trees and many species of plant
and animal life. At the South end of the island grows
mostly sea oat grass and prickleypear cactus.
KEY LARGO
The 48th annual CBC (Christmas 2002 Bird Count) in the Florida Keys in the Upper Keys-Plantation Key logged 101 individual bird species from dawn to dusk on Dec. 18.
Volunteers surveyed birds by land and boat counting all birds in a circle 15 miles in diameter in an area located 1/4 mile northeast of East Key. They were able to count more than 1,000 Double Crested cormorants. Semi palmated Sandpiper, Least sandpiper, the Short billed Dowitcher, Laughing gull, and Brown pelicaneach had counts of over 300.
Of note was a first time occurrence of a brilliant red-orange male summer tanager This migratory neotropical songbird, normally winters in Mexico, Central and South America.
This summer tanager or ( Piranga rubra ) eats primarily insects, but also favors ripe bananas, melon and citrus. Its size is about that of a cardinal size but without a crest.
Dagney Johnson Hammocks Botanical State Park - Mile marker 102.5 - Key Largo. Located half a mile north of the intersection of County Road 905 and U.S. 1.
Noted for annual nature lecture series held in January , February, and March
The Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is named for Dagny Johnson who was instrumental in helping to preserve this large tract of Florida Keys hammock and is now part of Great Florida Birding Trail. The Keys serve as the anchor for the South Florida segment of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Altogether the trail has 116 segment in twelve Florida Counties. Details for individual parks may be found via a downloadable brochure at the Great Florida Birding Trail's Web site, http://www.floridabirdingtrail.com.
At the Dagny Johnson Hammock Botanical State Park may be found breeding populations of white-crowned pigeons, black-whiskered vireos, and mangrove cuckoos and at times migrating warblers. Also documented are sightings of the Zenaida dove, thick-billed vireo and the rare LaSagra's flycatcher.
Key Largo Hammock Nature Walk - Thursdays and Sundays 10 AM, meet at gate of Port Bougainvillea Resort, County Rd. 905, North Key Largo,451-1202
Key Largo Botanical Site -
From the Keys, take US 1 north to MM 106.5, turn right to County Road 905 just before Circle K. Go 1 mile, entrance is on the right. From Florida City take Card Sound Road to 4 way stop. Turn right and go 10 miles, entrance is on left.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - mile marker 102.5, John Pennekamp has 3,000 acres of mangrove swamp, hardwood hammock and rocky coast.
Birders should check at the Visitor Center for recent bird sightings.
This park famous for its underwater splendor, provides opportunities for Peregrine falcons sightings . There are nature trails for birders where birders can see gray kingbirds, short-tailed hawks, the white-crowned pigeon, mangrove cuckoo, and black-whiskered vireo. Gannets, petrels and sooty terns can also be sighted by those that take the John Pennekamp's glass-bottom boat tour. Birders might also spy a tropical travelers like the Bahamas mockingbird and thick-billed vireo.
Dove Creek Hammock - MM 94, oceanside. Look for sign.
Florida Keys Wild Bird Center - Mile Marker 93.6 - Key Largo
This center is a good place for children to see many wild bird species - peregrine falcons, great white herons, gulls, screech owl, ibis, pelicans, osprey, and peacocks. It was started by a single woman, rescuing hurt birds. The Center rescues injured, sick and orphaned birds and provides rehabilitation with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. Birds are kept in wire cages and enclosures and may be viewed from a wooden boardwalk path that crosses wetland grounds. Free but donations support half the Center's cost. A few guided tours but most are unguided to a lack of volunteers. 305-852-4486
World Parrot Mission - Recently established at the Bird Center is the World Parrot Mission with purpose of caring for parrots. Parrot behavioral shows daily beginning at 11 AM , phone 305-853-BIRD, http://www.worldparrotmission.org
Caribbean Watersports' 'Enviro-Tours - http://www.caribbeanwatersports.com, two-hour Enviro-Tours of the Everglades National Park in specially-equipped Zodiac RIBs with experienced nature guides at the helm. Westin Beach Resort in Key Largo :1-800-223-6728 or 305 852-4707 for information, email - CWS@caribbeanwatersports.com
ISLAMORADA
Upper
Matecumbe Key -rookery
in northeast forested portion offers bird
watching
Windley
Key Fossil Reef Park
Located
on Windley Key on the bayside - Thursday through Monday
an hour long tour of 32 acre Windley Key is offered
starting at 10 AM and 1 PM and costs $2.50 per person,
children under 5 admitted free. Families with young
children would be wise to take a self guided tour and
pick and choose information that might be of interest to
the kids from the park's wonderful Trail Guide
available at the park store. Choice of 5 trails with
numbered stations along the way. 305-664-25440
.
The
70 plus page Trail Guide provides a five page illustrated
bird list of birds which have been seen at the Windley
Key Park.
Islamorada
Adventure Tours
A
guide out of Islamorada is Capt. Anne Baxter -
MM 81.5 at WildWorld Sportsman. Islamorada,
305-852-4553
Adventure
tours for the kids and family, specialty tours, Indian
key ruins, Everglades, ocean reefs, photography,
wildlife identification, learn ecology and science
while in search of dolphin, reddish egrets, bald
eagles, roseate spoonbills and sea turtles. half day
or full day of exploring the waters of the Florida
Keys, remote shallow bays and narrow creeks where
tropical wildlife lives. Birding tours are usually
around sunset when the birds are coming to
roost.
For
more information click on Easy Adventures at
www.keysboats.com
LONG
KEY
Long
Key State Park
in the Florida Keys - Mile Marker 67.5 long Key
305-664-4815
Nature
trails and the park's canoe trail offer opportunities to
see migrating spoonbills, warblers, and
egrets. Egrets, one the most common birds found in the Keys, are likely to be seen no matter where a birder decides to bird watch. At Long Key State Park, birders have mudflats, mangrove swamp, hammock, beach and coastal berm habitats to explore. Also productive for sightings are sea grapes next to the parking lot.
At Long Key during low tide, birders can view roseate spoonbills usually joined by reddish and other egrets searching the shallows for food. The mudflats are frequented by shorebirds like ruddy turnstones. Following the Golden Orb nature trail birders may see warblers and vireos, mangrove cuckoos and white-crowned pigeons. Of note in 2005, a western spindalis was sighted by the parking lot sea grapes.
From Key
Largo to Key West there are numerous locations to look
for migrants as well as breeding species and several
ponds along the way where shorebirds gather at high
tide.
MARATHON AREA
Pigeon Key -
Pigeon Key is located across the 2.2 mile span of the north end old seven mile Bridge in Marathon. The island once served as work camp for railroad construction workers. For a time is was a fishing camp and park. Today it is the home of the Pigeon key Foundation, an educational and research center that preserves the cultural and natural resources of the island. 305-289-0025 Transportation is available from Knight's Key at the north end of the Seven Mile Bridge.
Excellent wildlife viewing from the old bridge and island. Visitors can walk, bike or skate the bridge to the island. Good viewing of fall raptor migration in North America. Great Blue herons , Great White Herons, and Reddish Egrets frequent the shallow waters.
In August and September, migrating birds such as Swallow-tailed kites, Ospreys and Mississippi Kites can be sighted moving through. The bird migration continues into November. In October there are frequent sightings of the Broad-winged Swainson and the sharp-shinned hawks, American Kestrels, and Peregrine Falcon. In late September the Turkey Vultures concentrate around the island's mangroves.
Other Key's birds such as the mangrove cuckoo as well as migrating songbirds can be seen in the spring and fall.
Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon - Mile marker 56.2 on US 1 305-664-4815-
Between Grassy Key and Marathon. Located on both sides of US 1 starting at Little Crawl Key - Nature trails for hawk watching.
It's commonly thought that more peregrine falcons annually migrate through the Keys than through any other location in the U.S.
Visit the research and education staff of the Florida Keys Raptor Migration Project at Curry Hammock State Park between September 15 and November 13 each year to observe this exciting migration for yourself. Hawkwatch International leads an annual raptor count. At Curry Hammock, visitors have the opportunity to assist with the count of buteos, accipiters, falcons and eagles that fly through the Keys.
The Florida Keys is the premier location in the world to observe the fall migration of Peregrine Falcons. Over 23,000 raptors including over 1,700 Peregrines migrate through the Florida Keys each year, Other species to migrate to the Keys in large numbers are Merlins, American Kestrels, Sharp-Shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Ospreys, Northern Harriers, The Keys are also probably the best location east of the Mississippi River to see both Swainson's Hawks and Short-tailed Hawks during migration.
Tropical Crane Point Hammock - MM 50.5 - Marathon across from K-Mart - Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m. A 63-Acre indoor-outdoor museum. In addition to nature trails, Crane Point is a great place to take children as it offers several things to see at one location.The Children's Museum, Natural History Museum, Nature Trails Tour, and Adderly Village free for youngsters 6 or under, $7.50 for adults. 305-743-9100. Underwater cave with windows let you see sharks, lobster, tropical fish, and turtles swimming in their 15,000-gallon saltwater lagoon. Marine touch tanks and indoor exhibits.
. . . Nature Trails of Crane Hammock
Marked and self-guided tour trails take you through a hard wood hammock and tropical palm hammock containing 200 plus native and exotic plants and 10 endangered animal species.
. . . Children's Museum of the Florida Keys
Things to touch and see from days gone by when the Florida Keys was home to Indians, pirates, wreckers, and railroaders. Marine life touch tank, fish feeding, interactive pirate ship, "Los Ninos de Los Cayos" . Plenty of fish and animals for kids to see at the children's museum.
. . . Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys
Tools, shells, and dioramas of pre-Columbian Indians of the Keys, Spanish and British explorers, simulated underwater cave viewing tropical fish, sharks, lobster and marine life. Museum Gift Shop for souvenirs
. . . Tour the Adderly Village Historic Site
A short walk from the Museum of Natural History takes you to a restored Bahamian conch house. Tour the "Adderly Village" community , home of Bahamian families in the early 1900's. Learn how these Bahamian settlers lived, how they earned a living, what they ate, how they cared for the sick, the hardships they faced, and how they entertained themselves. Descriptive brochure available.
Marathon Wild Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation - Wild Bird Center at 888/826-3811 - This site is located on Crane Point Museum property and a fee is requires for access.
In addition to resident birds too injured to live on their own and birds on the mend this area provides opportunities to see cattle egrets, yellow warblers, black-whiskered vireos, ruby-throated hummingbirds, thrushes, swifts, doves and some birds of prey such as peregrine falcons. The numbers of birds change during start of migration season.
Sombrero Beach off Sombrero Road in Marathon - Burrowing Owls
Lake Edna on Grassy Key (turn right for about 0.2 miles at MM 57.9, Mile Marker signs (green signs along the road) indicate the number of miles before US-1 ends in Key West.
BIG
PINE KEY
OspreyCam
- http://www.ospraylivecams.com
-
A group of Lower Keys residents created Ospraycam so that
browsers might view the growth of a baby osprey from its
Big Pine Key nest.
At Big
Pine Key (MM 32.9): just after entering onto the Key, go
south onto Long Beach Drive. Stop at any convenient spot.
Ovenbirds, warblers, waterthrushes, siskins, buntings,
and orioles may be present during migration and in
winter.
Big Pine
Key (MM 30.2):
Big Pine
offers a number of nature spots with opportunities to see
birds in various setting. - Mile Marker 30.5 - all sites
on bayside
Big Pine
contains a part of the Florida
Keys National Wildlife
Refuge
-established to protect wildlife and their habitat. North
at the traffic light and immediate left onto Key Deer
Blvd. Refuge office is in the shopping center on the
right. Short-tailed hawk and turkey vultures may be
observed soaring overhead.
There are
actually three Refuges in the lower Florida Keys.
National
Key Deer
- established in 1957 to protect the endangered Key
Deer and other wildlife. Key Deer Refuge and
surrounding non-refuge lands afford opportunities for
birding. Lock your car, lock valuables in trunk or
take them with you when you leave it.
Great
White Heron
- established in 1938 to protect herons and egrets
from plume hunters. Great White Heron National
Wildlife Refuge encompasses many of the Keys north of
U.S. Highway 1 from Key West to just west of Marathon.
accessible only by boat
Key
West National Wildlife Refuge
-
establish in 1908 to protect herons and egrets from
plume hunters. Key
West
and Great White Heron Refuges are composed of many
small islands locally known as the Backcountry. Key
West National Wildlife Refuge lies west of Key West.
Accessible only by boat.
They are
part of a subtropical ecoregion and provide habitat for
many species of birds. Combined they total approximately
23,000 acres of land. If the water within the boundaries
of Key West and Great White Heron Refuges are included
the Refuges cover an area of about 358,000:
The best
times for birding are during the spring and fall
migration. Some of the more unique birds that can be seen
are great white herons, antillean nighthawk, gray
kingbird, black-whiskered vireo, white-crowned pigeon and
the elusive mangrove cuckoo. Together, these three
Refuges protect habitat for 285 species of
birds.
National
Key Deer (Florida Keys) National Wildlife
Refuge(s)
National
Key Deer Refuge Headquarters - Mile Marker 30.5, bayside.
At the traffic light turn north onto Key Deer Blvd. Go
1/8 mile, turn right into Big Pine Shopping Center.
305-872-2239.
Look for birds and the Key Deer. The refuge is a Key Deer
haven of approximately 2,300 acres located on Big Pine
Key. There you may see in the early morning or late
evening hours the small free roaming and endangered Key
Deer. These small and graceful creatures inhabit the
island of Big Pine which has fresh water and native
foliage to provide nourishment.
Watson/Mannillo
Trail - MM 30.5, bayside. 2.5 miles north of traffic
light on Key Deer Blvd.
A Bird
list of Uncommon, Common and Abundant birds at the
National Key Deer (Florida Keys) National Wildlife
Refuge(s) may be obtained at
http://i-bird.com/Location/FLNationalKeyDeer.htm
Blue
Hole
Also
on Big Pine is a sinkhole called Blue Hole. The Blue Hole
has a nature observation platform and a walking trail.
Freshwater fish and turtles as well as alligators at
times reside in Blue Hole. Located off of Key Deer
Boulevard on Big Pine Key , the Blue Hole is a great
place for picture taking family photos and videos.
305-872-2239
Pied-billed grebes and green herons may be present. The
masked duck and least grebe also have been seen.
Opposite
the Blue Hole, take Big Pine St. and make a left onto
Koehn Blvd. Near the end of the road and at the boat ramp
shorebirds may be present at the mud flats.
Jack
Watson's Nature Trail
A
distance of several hundred yards down the road passed
Blue Hole brings you to the entrance of the Jack Watson
Nature Trail. The trail is about one mile long and the
sites along the way are numbered. A tour brochure may be
found at the beginning of the trail describing each
numbered item. Key Deer have be found within the
Hammock's undergrowth or in low lying areas that collect
water. The trail leads under the canopy of trees where
you'll see gumbo limbo or "tourist trees" named because
of their red color and peeling bark. Also visible are
Jamaican dogwood trees. Pieces of this trees bark were
floated in local waters by Caloosa Indians to catch fish.
The bark's chemical property caused fish to float to the
top making them easy to gather, thus, the tree is also
known by the lesser name "fish-fuddle tree". In addition
to local Key's plant life you'll find orchids,
bromeliads, and possibly golden orb spiders.
305-872-2239
The vicinity of the west
end of Watson Blvd and along Narcissus Ave. is a good
place to look for antillean nighthawks They are often
present late in the day during spring and
summer.
No
Name Key - No Name Key Shoreline
In Big
Pine at the traffic light, turn north taking the right of
the Yonto Wilder Road. Continue one mile to the stop
sign. Turn left and follow the road 2 miles to a small
bridge. Continue on and cross over No Name Bridge 3/4
mile to end of road at yellow gate. Walk the shoreline to
see wading birds. Another way to get to No Name Key -
At
the traffic light make a right turn onto Key Deer Blvd.
Make a right at the intersection of Key Deer and Watson's
Boulevard. Keep going till you cross a concrete bridge.
Yellow
headed blackbird, dark-eyed junco, cave swallow, and
Swainson's warbler have been seen on No Name Key. A good
location for veiwing mangrove cuckoo and black-whiskered
vireo is at the end of the road.
Drive
slowly and look for Key Deer.
Best
place to see Key Deer is along the back roads of No Name
Key. Drive slowly once your on No Name and start looking
carefully. If you see a stopped car it usually means
someone has spotted a Key Deer.
The
best time of day to see Key Deer is in the early morning
or at dusk. In addition to the roadside of No Name Key,
Key deer may also be seen along the grassy road sides of
Big Pine. Fawns feeding with their moms are seen during
May and June.
FLORIDA KEYS NATURE
TOURS AND ECO TOURS - Big Pine & Cudjoe Keys and
the surrounding Lower Keys - http://keys-kayak-canoe-tours.com/
or http://courtesyfloridakeys.com/kayak.htm
- informative and friendly guides! Call or email Captain
Markus - KAYAKTHEKEYS@AOL.COM Phone:
305-872-0032, Canoetours@aol.com or
Ecotours@aol.com
Experience the Wildlife
and Marine life of the National Marine Sanctuary, Great
White Heron Refuge and National Key Deer Refuge -
Backcountry waters and Oceanside flats, Mangrove
Islandsand some of the most rare and beautiful Marine
Life, Birds & Flora in the U.S.
Try the "Wayback Tour" on
a flats' skiff and the "kayaks aboard". deep into the
pristine areas of the backcountry known by a few locals
and flats fishing guides. A little bit of everything -
birding, nature photography backcountry beach lunch,
kayaking along a mangrove tunnel , snorkeling, swimming,
fishing
LOWER
KEYS
Lower
Keys
The White-crowned Pigeon
and Black-whiskered Vireo are landbird attractions one
can see in the Lower Keys. On Sugar Loaf Key the illusive
Mangrove Cuckoo has been seen.
Torchwood
Hammock -
Little
Torch Key - Mile Marker 28.5, oceanside. Turn south onto
Pirates Road. Proceed until the road ends. Ecological gem
with 244 -acres and five different natural communities
plus several rare and imperiled species.
Bahia
Honda State Park
- Great spot for birding. - MM37.5, Lower Keys,
305-872-2353, 305-872-1127- Natural Trail and shoreline,
Marina, restrooms, dive shop, cabins and camp sites.
Tropical hardwood hammock adjoins coastal berm, beach and dune communities. A trail leads up to the old railroad bridge built by Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway and is an ideal location to hawkwatch and proviews birders with a birds-eye view of the ocean, bay and islands.
An
entrance fee is required. A wonderful place walk the beach to see
shorebirds, gulls, and terns. Warblers may be found in
trees close by the old store. Still other birds can be
viewed at the east end of the beach and roadside past the
camping area. Visitors can do it all here. Bahia Honda State Park allows for birding, camping, picnicing, boating, snorkeling, kayaking and or just swimming and relaxing on the beach.
Near the seagrape and poisonwood trees usually can be seen White-crowned pigeons and warblers feeding. Shorebirds and waders work the wrackline at low tide.
East
end of West Summerland
Key
- MM 34.9: On US1, just west of the Bahia Honda Bridge,
turn north until you come to the "Donut" (a manmade
cove). For viewing shorebirds, terns, and gulls. and
sometimes Snowy plovers.
Summerland
Key
- MM 25: first left after the bridge and salt pond on
right. Ibis and egrets can be viewed in this area.
Travel
right onto Margaret St and then the next left. On your
left you will find a fresh water pond where Ducks, least
bittern, sora rail, and white-crowned pigeon are found.
Moorhens have been known to nest here.
Sugarloaf
Key
- MM 17: meander south at traffic light to end of the
road. You should be able to view Hawks, harriers,
woodpeckers here. You may be able to view ducks on pond
to the right . Crossing the bridge brings you to pine
trees where pine siskin, indigo bunting, and grosbeak
have been seen.
KEY WEST
Key West Botanical Garden - Botanical Garden Way and College Road, Stock Island. free admission - an eleven acre garden with wood hammock and birds, Turn right off College Road just past Bayshore Manor. A tropical hardwood hammock with the only freshwater ponds on Key West and Stock Island this site provides birders with opportunities to look for the white-crowned pigeon, black-whiskered vireos, eastern and western kingbirds, scissor-tailed flycatchers, and seasonal migrants - tanagers, thrushes, buntings and flycatchers. Some lucky visitors have sighted the western spindalis.
Fort Zachary State Park - Truman Annex at Southard Street 305-292-6713 In addition to bird watching, take the tour of the Fort and picnic or go for a swim at park beach. Restrooms, picnic facilities and snackbar. Admission fee.
CLICK image Above
for LODGING
Hotels and motels
Florida Keys
and Key West
DISCOUNTED
LODGING IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
Florida
Keys Best is a regional website which provides
information on average to over 30,000 unique visitors
each month. Special
Internet rates negotiated with a number of hotels and
resorts are available to you through the Florida Keys
Best website. We provide reservation and discounted rate
information on more than 80 places of lodging in the
Florida Keys.
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over rates generally made available to the public by
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The
hotel and motel properties listed usually offer the best
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discount.
You'll
find a selection of lodging in Key Largo, Islamorada,
Duck Key - Hawk's Cay, Marathon and Key West.
Search the Greater Florida Keys Area:
Marathon and Duck Key
Islamorada
Key Largo
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