Located in Maitland on Lake Sybelia, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is a rehabilitation facility for injured raptors, as well as a nationally renowned research institute with a strong focus on educational programming. Since 1979, more than 12,000 raptors have been treated, and more than 40 percent have been released back into the wild.
One of Florida's first tourist attractions, Gatorland attracts wading birds and people for the same reason: the alligators. Wading birds in the wild choose to nest over water, so that alligators will live beneath their nests. Why? This protects the young from marauders like raccoons. Accordingly, wild wading birds have nested over the alligator ponds and marsh at Gatorland for years.
Between Titusville and Orlando lies a top-notch property which includes several miles of the Econlockhatchee River (and its tributaries and canals), plus flatwoods, wet prairie, hardwood hammock and freshwater swamp. The site is managed for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (RCWs); look for white-painted cavity trees on the red, yellow, and green loop trails.
Surprisingly good birding and butterfly-watching awaits you at this urban Orlando oasis. Unlike some botanical gardens, Leu Gardens has ample forested areas, with large live oaks and other native canopy trees, plus well-established mid- and understory layers which provide food and shelter for wildlife.
The North Shore area, also known at the Duda property, has 4.9 miles of multi-use trails. Check around the Barn Owl boxes near the parking area, then walk or bike the levee trails for Sora, Purple Gallinule, ducks, herons and Swamp Sparrow. Yellow Warbler and other migrants can be found in season.
A pocket of green amidst urban/suburban Orlando and Winter Park, this city park is an excellent destination to search for songbirds during spring and fall migrations. Habitats include bay swamp, stream, pond and hardwood forest.
Moss Park is a large, county property offering a diversity of birding and wildlife viewing experiences. As this site is adjacent to the wilder Split Oak Forest WEA/Mitigation Park, you can camp here in comfort and explore Split Oak's wilderness at your leisure.
Extensive, ongoing restoration efforts at this preserve on the southern end of Lake Apopka make this a great destination for woodland species, raptors and waterbirds. Seven short, color-coded walking trails allow you to choose from a variety of upland and wetland habitats.
With more than 220 bird species, 63 butterfly species and 22 miles of roads and hiking trails, the Orlando Wetlands Park is sure to please most any birder or wildlife watcher. This large wetlands treatment facility uses aquatic plants to polish already treated wastewater before discharging it into the St. Johns River. This process prevents algae blooms in the St. Johns and provides a fertile habitat for all kinds of wildlife!
Adjacent to (and once part of) the Hal Scott Regional Park and Preserve, Pine Lily Preserve is managed by Orange County as part of their Green PLACE conservation lands program. Cypress domes, pine flatwoods, hardwoods, freshwater marsh and riverine swamp habitats along Long Branch (a tributary of the Econlockhatchee River) harbor a rich assemblage of flora and fauna.
This wild, remote, state reserve at the intersection of SR 46 and CR 433 offers a nice assortment of birds and butterflies for those who take the time to hike or bike the 17 miles of multi-use trails. Sandhills, flatwoods, hammock, scrub and wetland species are present, as are Florida Scrub-Jays.
Part of Orange County's Green PLACE conservation lands program, this newly-opened site (July 2010) was purchased in 1999 to protect the Floridan aquifer and habitat within the St. Johns River basin. It also provides superb wildlife viewing opportunities, with numerous habitat types (scrub, scrubby flatwoods, strand swamp, freshwater marsh, hardwood hammock and pasture).
Spanning four counties, this large wilderness area (like most St. Johns River Water Management District lands) yields the best experience when hiking the property's extensive multi-use trail system. Sixty percent of the property is floodplain marsh and together with the hydric hammocks, floodplain swamp, pine flatwoods and wet prairie, you're apt to see everything from migratory songbirds and Painted Bunting, to Wild Turkey and wading birds.
Formerly known as Lake Cane Marsha Park, this Orange County oasis safeguards a biologically-rich remnant of the Lake Wales Ridge. Despite being surrounded by a sea of development, a surprisingly diverse array of habitats awaits you, including rosemary scrub, longleaf pine forest, xeric oak scrub, wetlands and four ponds. The northern section of the park offers the most productive birding, especially the foot trails between Lupine Pond and Woodland Pond.
Acquired in 1994 as mitigation for development in Central Florida, this wild property was purchased to protect upland habitats crucial for gopher tortoises. Birding this site requires some time and hiking; there are more than nine miles of trails here.
With pine flatwoods, oak hammocks and scrub, plus a bayhead swamp, a great view of Lake Tibet-Butler, a butterfly garden and 3.6 miles of hiking trails to explore, this county property is a wildlife watcher's delight. The Vera Carter Environmental Center provides a quick orientation to the area; grab a trail guide/map and bird checklist here to plan your route.
Tosohatchee WMA is a large, wild tract of land along the St. Johns River with an amazing diversity of habitats, including lush sabal palm hammocks, wetlands, cypress swamp and picturesque pine flatwoods. Stop at the entrance kiosk to register, pay and see a map. Also check the notice board for possible road closures. The majority of the WMA's dirt roads can be driven in a two-wheel drive vehicle; if roads are wet or too sandy, they may be closed to autos.
Wekiwa Springs State Park is famous for its spring run, but this site also includes some excellent habitats for birding and butterfly watching (freshwater swamp, sandhills, flatwoods, scrub, hammocks, lakes and ponds). The trail from the main spring to Sand Lake runs through six different plant communities, and during spring and fall migration, the park hosts 34 warbler species.
Located in Maitland on Lake Sybelia, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is a rehabilitation facility for injured raptors, as well as a nationally renowned research institute with a strong focus on educational programming. Since 1979, more than 12,000 raptors have been treated, and more than 40 percent have been released back into the wild.
One of Florida’s first tourist attractions, Gatorland attracts wading birds and people for the same reason: the alligators. Wading birds in the wild choose to nest over water, so that alligators will live beneath their nests. Why? This protects the young from marauders like raccoons. Accordingly, wild wading birds have nested over the alligator ponds and marsh at Gatorland for years.
Between Titusville and Orlando lies a top-notch property which includes several miles of the Econlockhatchee River (and its tributaries and canals), plus flatwoods, wet prairie, hardwood hammock and freshwater swamp. The site is managed for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (RCWs); look for white-painted cavity trees on the red, yellow, and green loop trails.
Surprisingly good birding and butterfly-watching awaits you at this urban Orlando oasis. Unlike some botanical gardens, Leu Gardens has ample forested areas, with large live oaks and other native canopy trees, plus well-established mid- and understory layers which provide food and shelter for wildlife.
The North Shore area, also known at the Duda property, has 4.9 miles of multi-use trails. Check around the Barn Owl boxes near the parking area, then walk or bike the levee trails for Sora, Purple Gallinule, ducks, herons and Swamp Sparrow. Yellow Warbler and other migrants can be found in season.
A pocket of green amidst urban/suburban Orlando and Winter Park, this city park is an excellent destination to search for songbirds during spring and fall migrations. Habitats include bay swamp, stream, pond and hardwood forest.
Moss Park is a large, county property offering a diversity of birding and wildlife viewing experiences. As this site is adjacent to the wilder Split Oak Forest WEA/Mitigation Park, you can camp here in comfort and explore Split Oak’s wilderness at your leisure.
Extensive, ongoing restoration efforts at this preserve on the southern end of Lake Apopka make this a great destination for woodland species, raptors and waterbirds. Seven short, color-coded walking trails allow you to choose from a variety of upland and wetland habitats.
With more than 220 bird species, 63 butterfly species and 22 miles of roads and hiking trails, the Orlando Wetlands Park is sure to please most any birder or wildlife watcher. This large wetlands treatment facility uses aquatic plants to polish already treated wastewater before discharging it into the St. Johns River. This process prevents algae blooms in the St. Johns and provides a fertile habitat for all kinds of wildlife!
Adjacent to (and once part of) the Hal Scott Regional Park and Preserve, Pine Lily Preserve is managed by Orange County as part of their Green PLACE conservation lands program. Cypress domes, pine flatwoods, hardwoods, freshwater marsh and riverine swamp habitats along Long Branch (a tributary of the Econlockhatchee River) harbor a rich assemblage of flora and fauna.
This wild, remote, state reserve at the intersection of SR 46 and CR 433 offers a nice assortment of birds and butterflies for those who take the time to hike or bike the 17 miles of multi-use trails. Sandhills, flatwoods, hammock, scrub and wetland species are present, as are Florida Scrub-Jays.
Part of Orange County’s Green PLACE conservation lands program, this newly-opened site (July 2010) was purchased in 1999 to protect the Floridan aquifer and habitat within the St. Johns River basin. It also provides superb wildlife viewing opportunities, with numerous habitat types (scrub, scrubby flatwoods, strand swamp, freshwater marsh, hardwood hammock and pasture).
Spanning four counties, this large wilderness area (like most St. Johns River Water Management District lands) yields the best experience when hiking the property’s extensive multi-use trail system. Sixty percent of the property is floodplain marsh and together with the hydric hammocks, floodplain swamp, pine flatwoods and wet prairie, you’re apt to see everything from migratory songbirds and Painted Bunting, to Wild Turkey and wading birds.
Formerly known as Lake Cane Marsha Park, this Orange County oasis safeguards a biologically-rich remnant of the Lake Wales Ridge. Despite being surrounded by a sea of development, a surprisingly diverse array of habitats awaits you, including rosemary scrub, longleaf pine forest, xeric oak scrub, wetlands and four ponds. The northern section of the park offers the most productive birding, especially the foot trails between Lupine Pond and Woodland Pond.
Acquired in 1994 as mitigation for development in Central Florida, this wild property was purchased to protect upland habitats crucial for gopher tortoises. Birding this site requires some time and hiking; there are more than nine miles of trails here.
With pine flatwoods, oak hammocks and scrub, plus a bayhead swamp, a great view of Lake Tibet-Butler, a butterfly garden and 3.6 miles of hiking trails to explore, this county property is a wildlife watcher’s delight. The Vera Carter Environmental Center provides a quick orientation to the area; grab a trail guide/map and bird checklist here to plan your route.
Tosohatchee WMA is a large, wild tract of land along the St. Johns River with an amazing diversity of habitats, including lush sabal palm hammocks, wetlands, cypress swamp and picturesque pine flatwoods. Stop at the entrance kiosk to register, pay and see a map. Also check the notice board for possible road closures. The majority of the WMA’s dirt roads can be driven in a two-wheel drive vehicle; if roads are wet or too sandy, they may be closed to autos.
Wekiwa Springs State Park is famous for its spring run, but this site also includes some excellent habitats for birding and butterfly watching (freshwater swamp, sandhills, flatwoods, scrub, hammocks, lakes and ponds). The trail from the main spring to Sand Lake runs through six different plant communities, and during spring and fall migration, the park hosts 34 warbler species.
The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. When you want to know where to go in Florida to see native birds, butterflies and more, head for the Trail.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Russell Office Park
1875 Orange Ave. East
Tallahassee, FL 32311