By Anastasia Kats
Due to its geographical location and many other factors, Florida attracts the attention of many bird species. Some live permanently in the state, others stay only for the breeding season, and others use Florida as a place to rest during their exhausting journey. All this guarantees the presence of many birds at almost any time of the year. People from all over the United States and other countries in North America come to watch them.
Birdwatching features in Florida
For birdwatching enthusiasts, Florida is a true paradise. Almost all of its territory has suitable places for different species of migratory and permanently resident birds. This creates ideal conditions for birdwatching and forms a unique birdwatching culture in Florida. The state is home to many types of ecosystems. Due to this, the diversity of birds has reached its maximum, and Florida is one of the leaders in this indicator. This is also facilitated by the favorable geographical location (the state is located at the temperate and tropical climate zone's intersection).
An essential feature of birdwatching in Florida is seasonality. In different months of the year, an abundance of birds is observed in certain parts of the state, which creates ideal conditions for their observation only in one period or another. The rest of the time, you have to be content with observing species that constantly live in the same places. However, even in this situation, there will be someone to watch in any part of Florida. It is also necessary to note the need for mandatory use of night vision or thermal optics. Without it, finding birds among the dense vegetation of the state will be extremely difficult.
Birdwatching enthusiasts in Florida should be prepared to confront various insects. There are always many of them in the most suitable places for bird watching, so you should never forget to put some protective equipment in your backpack that effectively repels small harmful creatures. In addition, you need to remember about the heat, which is the hallmark of Florida.
Most popular locations
As mentioned earlier, there are many places in Florida that are ideal for birdwatching. Lovers of this activity highlight five of the most popular locations. Each will give you the opportunity to see many species of birds and get great pleasure from communicating with wildlife.
The leader in the popularity rating is J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This famous natural location has deciduous forests, various reservoirs and even mangrove swamps on its territory. All of them are an excellent place for birds, and they do not miss the opportunity to get the most out of their stay on their territory. Having visited this reserve, birdwatching lovers will be able to see many rare species and enjoy the beauty of wildlife. The second most popular place in Florida, where you can watch various birds, is Fisheating Creek. This area, protected by nature conservation organizations, becomes home to many birds. Most often, they settle among deciduous trees and near Lake Okeechobee. In Fisheating Creek, the chances of meeting scarce species will not be very high, but many more common birds are here at any time of the year.
The following popular location is Tomoka State Park. More than 150 species of birds live here permanently, and the same number use this natural object as a temporary home. This lets you watch birds almost anywhere in Tomoka State Park. Another essential advantage of this location is that it is located next to Bulow Creek State Park, which is also one of the suitable places for birdwatching. The top 5 locations for birdwatching also include Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Blackwater River State Park. Almost 400 species of birds can be found on the territory of these natural objects, so birdwatching lovers will definitely have something to do.
Unique bird species in Florida
The main reward for birdwatching enthusiasts is observing unique species found only in a particular region. There are some in the state of Florida. Among them, the most famous is the Florida Scrub Jay. This relatively small bird stands out for its bright plumage, thanks to which it can be noticed from a great distance. It lives mainly in open areas and often settles among low oaks, feeding on acorns. Florida Scrub Jay is found only in the state, so it is gradually becoming a valid symbol.
Among the unique predators of Florida, the Everglade Snail Kite deserves special attention. This bird is quite large but won't be easy to see. This is because it has light brown plumage, which allows it to blend in with the environment. You should look for this predator near water bodies. It feeds mainly on snails, so it does not stray far from their habitats. The following species that all birdwatching enthusiasts dream of seeing is the Limpkin. This swamp bird stands out for its long legs and slightly curved beak. It lives exclusively in Florida and will not migrate to other states. To find this bird, you need to make a maximum effort. Most of the day, it moves through the reeds and looks for food. Limpkin rarely comes out into open areas, but if you wait for such a moment, you can become one of the few who have seen this bird with their own eyes.
White-Crowned Pigeon is another unique species of Florida. It is a distant relative of the pigeons known to everyone but differs significantly from them in behavior and appearance. This bird is considered one of the timidest. When a person or other dangerous creature approaches, the White-Crowned Pigeon immediately flies to safer places. In this regard, birdwatching enthusiasts will have to try hard to get the opportunity to observe a rare Florida pigeon with their own eyes. Another representative of the top 5 unique bird species living in the state is the Smooth-Billed Ani. It is relatively small in size but has a very long tail. It is this feature that makes the bird different from other birds. The best place to look for the Smooth-Billed Ani is in the thickets near the fields. There, they search for insects, which they feed on, and spend most of the day.
Finding a more suitable state for birdwatching in the USA than Florida is difficult. There are many places on its territory where you can meet dozens of interesting and sometimes very rare species of birds. Watching them will be a real adventure that will give you many pleasant moments and give you the opportunity to get maximum pleasure.
