How Does a Site Get on the Trail?

Anyone can nominate a site - birders, citizen conservationists, tourism executives or land managers. Subscribe to the Kite Tales newsletter to receive regular updates and learn when the nomination process is open in your area!

Each site is evaluated based on the following set of criteria:

  • Ecological significance. Emphasis will be given to high quality or significant bird habitats, especially those that contribute to avian diversity on a regional level.
  • Birdwatching characteristics. The probability of seeing birds, at least during specified season(s), is high. The main viewing attraction(s) are native, free-roaming bird species. Consideration may be given to species valued by the public for their beauty or rarity.
  • Site resiliency. The site has the ability to withstand public usage. Fragile ecosystems or habitats with sensitive species should not be included. Other sites which have birds during sensitive periods of the life cycle (i.e. breeding and nesting) can have restricted visitor access during those times, unless it can be demonstrated that public use can be sufficiently confined so as not to harm the site's natural values that make it good bird habitat.
  • Physical and legal access. The site is reasonably accessible to the public. In the absence of guaranteed public access to private land, birdwatching from an adjacent public road may be recommended with the cooperation form all parties involved.
  • Public ownership - site is open to public use.
  • Private ownership - the landowner is willing to guarantee in writing public access, including controlled public access through guided, prearranged tours.
  • Economic significance. A community tourism infrastructure, such as a Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Development Council, exits in the adjacent community(ies).
  • Maintenance support. Site has full support of all partners involved, especially partners providing maintenance of the site other than state or federal partners.
  • Educational significance. Site has educational signage or programs pertaining to birds.

A diversity of sites is appropriate for the Trail – the Birding Trail features something for all skill and mobility levels. Sites can be on public or private land; be excellent birding year-round or just in one season; their access can even be restricted to "appointments only". If you have questions about whether a potential site is appropriate for the trail, please contact the Birding Trail Coordinator. It may be a fabulous birdwatching opportunity and a great benefit to your local economy.

What Happens After a Site is Nominated?

After a site nomination is submitted, it is checked for completion. If it was not submitted by the property owner/manager, the Birding Trail Coordinator contacts the land manager to congratulate them, and then forwards it for their review, and hopefully, their concurrence.

Birding Trail staff visit each nominated site. Meeting with site managers and nominators is helpful, but not always possible; therefore, the completeness of your application is very important.

Selection of Sites

A steering committee meets to review the nominated sites and to make the final selection. The committee is comprised of representatives from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Audubon, and Visit Florida.

When Will Nominations for Each Section be Accepted Again?

Beginning with the East section in Summer 2007, the nomination process for each section of the trail will be reopened approximately every five years so that new sites may be included. Sections will be revisited in the order they were opened. Due to budget constraints, we have revised our site nomination schedule. Below is our tentative timeframe:

  • East Section - 2007 (closed)
  • West Section - 2011
  • Panhandle Section - 2012
  • South Section - 2013