How to Watch Fall Migratory Birds in Florida

Florida is a great birding destination any time of the year. In fall, you'll get a chance to observe birds that are moving south to spend the winter.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Maps
• Travel Guides
• Insect Repellents
• Sunscreen
• Binoculars
• Binoculars
• Spotting Scopes
• Maps

1. Take a trip to Everglades National Park. It's one of North America's birding hot spots, and more than 350 bird species have been recorded there.

2. Plan to attend the Florida Birding Festival, held in late September in Clearwater. Not only will you be able to attend workshops and field trips, but you'll meet local birders who can direct you to the best birding spots.

3. Visit refuges, including the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Chassahowizka National Wildlife Refuge and Corkscrew Swamp National Audubon Sanctuary, to name a few.

4. Bird the Florida Keys, where migratory birds fly over on their way to the tropics.

5. Visit a Nature Conservancy preserve. One is located just outside Orlando: the Disney Wilderness Preserve.

6. Contact a tour company if you don't want to bird Florida on your own. Birding tours to Florida are extremely popular.

Tips & Warnings

• Florida is full of wildlife sanctuaries and excellent birding spots, some located many miles apart. It's essential that you map out your trip carefully so that you can cover all the ground you want without wasting time.
• The Dry Tortugas, which can be reached by seaplane or boat from south Florida, are an extremely popular birding destination in spring but don't have much to offer in the way of fall birding.
• In addition to its thriving bird life, Florida is famous for a variety of biting insects. Come prepared with a powerful repellent.
• Heat, humidity and hurricanes are all part of the equation in Florida in fall. Be sure you are prepared for any kind of weather, and stay tuned for weather warnings.