5 Best Locations on the Great Florida Birding Trail For The Ultimate Bird Watching Road Trip
Feathered friends have always fascinated me. Their bright eyes, cheerful songs, and colorful plumage never cease to capture my interest and admiration. I have an especial regard for “parking lot birds” – specifically the round little guys who live at my local McDonald’s. Too adorable! (And relatable. I also love free French fries.)
But sometimes a person wants to expand their horizons beyond the parking lot and find creatures they’ve only heard about from Audubon; birds they’ve only seen in pictures, but have never witnessed with their own two eyes.
That’s when it’s time to take a birdwatching road trip on the Great Florida Birding Trail!
There are so many amazing locations along the entire trail, but today we’ll just be highlighting some of our favorites, known for plentiful populations of downright cool birds as well as amazing surroundings to immerse yourself in. So, grab your binoculars and birdwatching bingo card – this road trip is underway!
The Great Florida Birding Trail
Florida is situated along the Atlantic Flyway, which means our state is graced with an incredible diversity of birds during the spring and fall migration seasons (not to mention our great selection of native birds!).
The Great Florida Birding Trail snakes all across Florida, from the panhandle all the way to the deep south. There are 510 wildlife viewing sites scattered across our state, and while we’ll only look at a few favorite stops today, it’s nice to know a good birding location is never too far away!
In fact, a large portion of the Great Florida Birding Trail spots are nestled within state parks, so you can make an entire day of visiting each spot, sprinkling in some great picnicking, kayaking, and hiking along with your birding!
1. Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
While this place might sound scary, it’s actually a fantasy-level haven for beautiful songbirds!
Devil’s Millhopper is a forest inside of a sinkhole (cool, right?!) and is home to birds like Veery, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Towhee. With a keen eye, you’ll also run across breeding birds such as the Summer Tanager, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tufted Titmouse (adorable), and Pileated Woodpecker. And, if you’re lucky and on the lookout, you might even lock eyes with an Eastern Screech-Owl!
Additionally, keep watch for any Least Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, and American Woodcock during migration – not to mention 30 species of wood-warbler!1
Devil’s Millhopper is an awesome spot for birdwatching, not only because of the wide array of species you can find but also because the setting is truly stunning; stepping into this sunken forest is like stepping into another world. It’s definitely a sensation you won’t find anywhere else!
2. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
It probably comes as no surprise that Paynes Prairie Preserve is on our birdwatching list. After all, it’s one of Florida’s most renowned wildlife havens, explored (and adored by) naturalist William Bartram, c. 1774.
For a birding road trip, Paynes Prairie is a must. There are 270 species of bird on the preserve’s checklist, and eight trails to choose from (encompassing 30 miles in all), so there’s plenty of opportunities to spot different species as you stroll along!
Depending on the season in which you visit, you’ll find Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, and King Rail, as well as rarer sights such as Yellow Rail, Tundra Swan, White-faced Ibis, Golden Eagle, Groove-billed Ani, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Harris’s Sparrow.2
Florida Sandhill Cranes are present all year round, which means they’re always ready for pictures (taken with your best, most zoom-y camera lens)! Oh, and Bald Eagles have also been spotted in Paynes Prairie! Honestly, is there anything more exciting than seeing one of those majestic friends??3
3. Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
Spanning 15 beautiful acres, this Key West conservation site and botanical garden is the only one of its kind (frost-free, subtropical) in the continental United States. But it’s not just the fantastic flora that stands out here – as a major migratory locale, there’s a list of 193 bird species for you to find at this stop on your birding road trip!
Florida favorites like the Short-tailed Hawk, White-crowned Pigeon, and Black-whiskered Vireo hang out here, as well as rarities like the Bahama Mockingbird.4 Usually at home in the Caribbean islands, this sizeable mockingbird occasionally makes its way to Key West Tropical Forest, which is a spectacular surprise for fortunate birdwatchers!
4. Blue Springs
Blue Springs, Florida, is the second-largest spring in the entire state, and perhaps the most popular place to take a swim. Many folks come just to watch the manatees float by. But did you know it’s also a prime location along the Great Florida Birding Trail?
That’s right! In addition to adorable sea cow sightings, 150 bird species have been recorded in the area! Strolling across the boardwalk or hiking along the Pine Island Trail will give you the chance to encounter Florida Scrub-Jays, Hairy Woodpeckers (now don’t they just sound wonderfully soft?), and Bachman’s Sparrows. There’s also plenty of migrating songbirds and wood-warblers, depending on the season.5
My personal favorite Blue Springs resident is the roosting Barred Owls – their heads are so round! And their eyes are so big! 10/10 quality owl – would pet if it were acceptable to do so.
5. Dry Tortugas
This stop on our birding road trip is what you might call “off-roading.” Literally.
You have to take a ferry to get here, but if you’re interested in sea birds, then the southernmost point in the continental U.S. is the place to be! Ideal for an afternoon or an entire camping trip, Dry Tortugas is home to Sooty Terns (cutely nicknamed “sooties”), Brown Noddies, and even Black Noddies.6
You’ll also encounter Brown Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, and sometimes even a Roseate Tern or two. During migratory seasons, the bird population absolutely BOOMS, with an insane listing of 299 different recorded species! From Masked Boobies to Magnificent Frigates, Dry Tortugas hosts some of the most spectacular aviary specimens in the entire country.
While this locale of our birdwatching road trip is a bit out of the way, it’s a breathtaking experience – especially for nature lovers – and truly worth a visit.
While we picked these five birding stops for their super unique settings and abundance of avian attendees, there are so many other amazing places for birdwatching throughout the state! From Ocala National Forest to rather unexpected locales like Bok Tower Gardens and Gatorland (no, for real!), there are endless opportunities to try and spot your favorite feathered friend!
What’s your favorite birdwatching spot on the Great Florida Birding Trail?? And what’s the coolest bird you’ve ever seen? Let us know in the comments below!
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