This wooded park on the bluffs of the St. Johns River was once a flourishing citrus grove. Over a mile of paved walking and biking trails meander through upland pine/hardwood forest near the entrance and riparian hardwood forest down by the river. Wander among the stately live oak trees and historic 19th century-era structures by the bluff, searching for songbird migrants. For the more adventurous birder, a canoe/kayak launch structure is provided; Bring your own boat.
This state park has much to offer and boasts a list of over 200 bird species. On the way in, check the Salt Run inlet. Scan from shore at the boat concession area, or the sandy spot further south. Alternatively launch a kayak and bird the inlet by boat. From the campground, hike the shaded nature trail for Painted Buntings in spring and summer. Four miles of beach provide great opportunities for viewing nesting Least Terns and wintering Piping Plovers. Butterfly viewing at the park is excellent. Bikes, canoes and kayaks are available for rent onsite.
Nine species of sparrows have been documented at this location, including Nelson's, Seaside, Saltmarsh and Savannah Sparrow. Approximately 13 acres of uplands offer expansive views of hundreds of acres of salt marsh where over 140 bird species have been recorded.
This State Park is a raw, gorgeous piece of native Florida, with breathtaking habitats harboring a diversity of birds and wildlife. There are two, short hiking loops plus the Hiram Faver Interpretive Trail (composed of the Pine Loop Trail and the Plantation Trail) that wind through thick maritime hammock, flatwoods, sandhills and along an extensive salt marsh on Pellicer Creek. Rent a canoe or kayak or bring your own and paddle Pellicer Creek State Canoe Trail for a chance to see River Otters. Guided tours can be arranged with advance notice. Several miles of park boundary roads and back roads can be hiked by prior arrangement – contact park staff for details.
This national monument at Matanzas Inlet has several prime birding spots. Start at the visitor center and pick up a map and bird list, then hike the nature trail's boardwalk through maritime hammock, watching for migratory songbirds. Most of the nature trail is wheelchair accessible. Great Horned Owls sometimes nest behind the visitor center. Take the short ferry ride (free) across the Matanzas River to the 1700s-era Spanish fort, and scan the marshes for waterbirds. Guided bird walks are scheduled from September to May; call ahead for details.
The former site of a 1700s-era fort and the first free African-American settlement in the United States, this historical park will keep you busy for a couple of hours if you're visiting the St. Augustine area. A 700-foot boardwalk leads through salt marsh. An observation deck at the end of the boardwalk looks out over shallow, cordgrass marsh with scattered hardwood hammocks. The largest contains a Great Blue Heron rookery. Check the live oaks and open grassy areas by the visitor center and the trees around the parking area for songbirds and woodpeckers.
This site is an excellent birding destination; 220 species have been recorded. It offers 15 miles of hiking trails through flatwoods, oak hammocks, scrub, freshwater wetlands and brackish marshes. A viewing tower on Capo Creek provides good vantage to scan for wintering ducks, for which the area is known. Be sure to check out the viewing platform on Savannah Loop to see wading birds. Songbirds can be found in the hammocks during spring and fall migration.
At the main entrance to GTMNERR, stop in at the first-class education center to pick up a checklist and trail map. Ask for information about educational programs, including bird walks. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded at this trail site. It is renowned for viewing the fall Peregrine Falcon migration; local birders head here to watch and count them each year. To witness this spectacle yourself, visit the tower at the North Beach Use Area (on the beach side of A1A) during the first two weeks of October.
This state forest creates a conservation corridor between Moses Creek Conservation Area to the north and Faver-Dykes State Park to the south. Habitats include bay and cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, hardwoods, salt marsh and mudflats. While much of the forest is still in pine plantation (restoration efforts are underway), this site is home to a regionally significant Wood Stork rookery. Note: outside hunting season, the entrance gate is locked, and you must call ahead for a visitor's permit and gate combination. Numerous forest roads allow birding by car, bicycle, horseback or foot, but be advised some roads may be closed at times to protect sensitive species.
This preserve encompasses woods and waters from the Matanzas River to the Atlantic Ocean. Begin at the main entrance on the west side of A1A, where Ospreys nest in the cell tower beside the parking lot. A paved walkway curves past a freshwater pond and two observation decks provide good vantage points to view the wildlife. Hiking and biking trails loop through maritime hammock and oak scrub, and two brief side trails lead to overlooks on the river. The preserve offers good butterfly watching, particularly on the Scrub Loop trail. To take advantage of the preserve's beach, which can be walked for several miles in either direction, there are multiple access points.
If you're in the St. Augustine area stop by this modern day park take a stroll along the short boardwalk for a nice view of the salt marsh along the Intracoastal Waterway (and nearby Fort Matanzas National Monument). Follow the limerock walking trail loop through coastal oak scrub, which has interpretive panels, benches and an educational scavenger hunt for kids. You may also encounter migratory songbirds here during spring and fall. The trail and hardwoods around the parking area can also be good for songbirds in spring and fall.
This famous wading bird rookery provides a great day out for birders, photographers, tourists and families. Boardwalks wind through the rookery, giving great up-close looks at the adult birds, their nests and their prehistoric looking chicks! The birds are very habituated to people on the boardwalks and as a result disturbance is not an issue. Bring your camera! While some birds are almost always nesting at this site, the best time to enjoy the rookery is between April and July. Early bird member passes are available, providing access to the site before the general public are allowed in at 9am – perfect for photography and nature study. Call ahead for details.
This relatively new park is proof that good things come in small packages. Paved loop trails (suitable for wheelchairs) lead through hardwood hammocks down to two overlooks on both the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and Moultrie Creek. Scan the creek at low tide for shorebirds. A Bald Eagle nest on the bluff is viewable from the observation deck and kayak launch. Take extra time wandering the trails in spring and fall migration.
Whoever thought parking lot birding could be so productive? Situated in the middle of a salt marsh, with mudflats, oyster bars and open water habitats, this boat ramp and parking area at the west end of the Vilano bridge provide great viewing opportunities for shorebirds, gulls, terns and wading birds. Low tide and spring/fall migration are the best times to visit. When motorized boat traffic is low, you may wish to paddle the marsh for additional viewing opportunities. Note: this boat ramp is extremely busy on weekends and holidays, so time your visits accordingly.
This wooded park on the bluffs of the St. Johns River was once a flourishing citrus grove. Over a mile of paved walking and biking trails meander through upland pine/hardwood forest near the entrance and riparian hardwood forest down by the river. Wander among the stately live oak trees and historic 19th century-era structures by the bluff, searching for songbird migrants. For the more adventurous birder, a canoe/kayak launch structure is provided; Bring your own boat.
This state park has much to offer and boasts a list of over 200 bird species. On the way in, check the Salt Run inlet. Scan from shore at the boat concession area, or the sandy spot further south. Alternatively launch a kayak and bird the inlet by boat. From the campground, hike the shaded nature trail for Painted Buntings in spring and summer. Four miles of beach provide great opportunities for viewing nesting Least Terns and wintering Piping Plovers. Butterfly viewing at the park is excellent. Bikes, canoes and kayaks are available for rent onsite.
Nine species of sparrows have been documented at this location, including Nelson’s, Seaside, Saltmarsh and Savannah Sparrow. Approximately 13 acres of uplands offer expansive views of hundreds of acres of salt marsh where over 140 bird species have been recorded.
This State Park is a raw, gorgeous piece of native Florida, with breathtaking habitats harboring a diversity of birds and wildlife. There are two, short hiking loops plus the Hiram Faver Interpretive Trail (composed of the Pine Loop Trail and the Plantation Trail) that wind through thick maritime hammock, flatwoods, sandhills and along an extensive salt marsh on Pellicer Creek. Rent a canoe or kayak or bring your own and paddle Pellicer Creek State Canoe Trail for a chance to see River Otters. Guided tours can be arranged with advance notice. Several miles of park boundary roads and back roads can be hiked by prior arrangement – contact park staff for details.
This national monument at Matanzas Inlet has several prime birding spots. Start at the visitor center and pick up a map and bird list, then hike the nature trail’s boardwalk through maritime hammock, watching for migratory songbirds. Most of the nature trail is wheelchair accessible. Great Horned Owls sometimes nest behind the visitor center. Take the short ferry ride (free) across the Matanzas River to the 1700s-era Spanish fort, and scan the marshes for waterbirds. Guided bird walks are scheduled from September to May; call ahead for details.
The former site of a 1700s-era fort and the first free African-American settlement in the United States, this historical park will keep you busy for a couple of hours if you’re visiting the St. Augustine area. A 700-foot boardwalk leads through salt marsh. An observation deck at the end of the boardwalk looks out over shallow, cordgrass marsh with scattered hardwood hammocks. The largest contains a Great Blue Heron rookery. Check the live oaks and open grassy areas by the visitor center and the trees around the parking area for songbirds and woodpeckers.
This site is an excellent birding destination; 220 species have been recorded. It offers 15 miles of hiking trails through flatwoods, oak hammocks, scrub, freshwater wetlands and brackish marshes. A viewing tower on Capo Creek provides good vantage to scan for wintering ducks, for which the area is known. Be sure to check out the viewing platform on Savannah Loop to see wading birds. Songbirds can be found in the hammocks during spring and fall migration.
At the main entrance to GTMNERR, stop in at the first-class education center to pick up a checklist and trail map. Ask for information about educational programs, including bird walks. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded at this trail site. It is renowned for viewing the fall Peregrine Falcon migration; local birders head here to watch and count them each year. To witness this spectacle yourself, visit the tower at the North Beach Use Area (on the beach side of A1A) during the first two weeks of October.
This state forest creates a conservation corridor between Moses Creek Conservation Area to the north and Faver-Dykes State Park to the south. Habitats include bay and cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, hardwoods, salt marsh and mudflats. While much of the forest is still in pine plantation (restoration efforts are underway), this site is home to a regionally significant Wood Stork rookery. Note: outside hunting season, the entrance gate is locked, and you must call ahead for a visitor’s permit and gate combination. Numerous forest roads allow birding by car, bicycle, horseback or foot, but be advised some roads may be closed at times to protect sensitive species.
This preserve encompasses woods and waters from the Matanzas River to the Atlantic Ocean. Begin at the main entrance on the west side of A1A, where Ospreys nest in the cell tower beside the parking lot. A paved walkway curves past a freshwater pond and two observation decks provide good vantage points to view the wildlife. Hiking and biking trails loop through maritime hammock and oak scrub, and two brief side trails lead to overlooks on the river. The preserve offers good butterfly watching, particularly on the Scrub Loop trail. To take advantage of the preserve’s beach, which can be walked for several miles in either direction, there are multiple access points.
If you’re in the St. Augustine area stop by this modern day park take a stroll along the short boardwalk for a nice view of the salt marsh along the Intracoastal Waterway (and nearby Fort Matanzas National Monument). Follow the limerock walking trail loop through coastal oak scrub, which has interpretive panels, benches and an educational scavenger hunt for kids. You may also encounter migratory songbirds here during spring and fall. The trail and hardwoods around the parking area can also be good for songbirds in spring and fall.
This famous wading bird rookery provides a great day out for birders, photographers, tourists and families. Boardwalks wind through the rookery, giving great up-close looks at the adult birds, their nests and their prehistoric looking chicks! The birds are very habituated to people on the boardwalks and as a result disturbance is not an issue. Bring your camera! While some birds are almost always nesting at this site, the best time to enjoy the rookery is between April and July. Early bird member passes are available, providing access to the site before the general public are allowed in at 9am – perfect for photography and nature study. Call ahead for details.
This relatively new park is proof that good things come in small packages. Paved loop trails (suitable for wheelchairs) lead through hardwood hammocks down to two overlooks on both the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and Moultrie Creek. Scan the creek at low tide for shorebirds. A Bald Eagle nest on the bluff is viewable from the observation deck and kayak launch. Take extra time wandering the trails in spring and fall migration.
Whoever thought parking lot birding could be so productive? Situated in the middle of a salt marsh, with mudflats, oyster bars and open water habitats, this boat ramp and parking area at the west end of the Vilano bridge provide great viewing opportunities for shorebirds, gulls, terns and wading birds. Low tide and spring/fall migration are the best times to visit. When motorized boat traffic is low, you may wish to paddle the marsh for additional viewing opportunities. Note: this boat ramp is extremely busy on weekends and holidays, so time your visits accordingly.
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