Florida Birding Tips
by Barb Graf

“Florida is a birding paradise. From the tall coastal dunes and great river swamps of the Panhandle and the unique terrain of the Red Hills, through the flatwoods, scrubs, dry prairies, and wetlands of the Peninsula, to the West Indian hardwood hammocks and coral reefs of the Keys, the state offers superb birding opportunities at all seasons. Through January 2005, the official Florida bird list, with 481 native species and 12 established exotics, is the largest of any state east of the Mississippi River and the fifth largest overall.”

Above is the beginning of the Introduction in Bill Pranty’s, “A Birder’s Guide to Florida,” an essential book for any birder traveling to Florida. A birding paradise that is easily within reach of Michigan birders! We have traveled to Florida many times, each time discovering new birding locations. Our recent trip was no exception. Equipped with Pranty’s book and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s booklets on “The Great Florida Birding Trail” (available online at www.floridabirdingtrail.com), we spent the month of April exploring places, such as, “The Road to Nowhere” and a cypress stand where as many as 30 Barn Owls have been observed (We saw 6-8 owls.). Because we were “camping,” we also picked up a pamphlet to all of Florida’s state parks, which proved very helpful. Many of the campgrounds or RV parks in Florida consist of mobile homes that have become permanent or semi-permanent homes. One highlight was a three-day excursion led by Larry Manfredi to the Dry Tortugas, aboard Sea-Clusive Charter’s “Playmate” out of Key West. While our life birds were among the “12 established exotics,” our 2006 journey to Florida was very enjoyable.