South Florida
The South Section of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail spans 12 counties from Lake Okeechobee to the Dry Tortugas, 70 miles beyond Key West. Prominent features of this region include coastal mangrove swamp, sandy beaches and, of course, the expansive Everglades, a “river of grass” that consists of more than 1.5 million acres of wetland. South Florida is also home to the incredibly rare pine rockland habitat, found at sites including Miami’s Deering Estate and the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key.
photo: Florida Everglades
Exploring South Florida
Whether you explore by foot, car, bicycle or boat, there are truly amazing wildlife opportunities awaiting you. South Florida’s diverse habitats reliably host sought after species, such as Crested Caracara, Painted Bunting, Roseate Spoonbill, Short-tailed Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Snail Kite and Wood Stork. The southern coastline and the Florida Keys are incredible places to see birds during migration, including astounding numbers of raptors in fall. Persistent wildlife viewers will be able to track down rarer resident species, such as Mangrove Cuckoo and Smooth- and Groove-billed Ani, or breeding Antillean Nighthawk. Lucky birders can happen upon Caribbean vagrants, such as Bananaquit and Black-faced Grassquit.
