BIRDERS

The Florida Keys is an interesting destination for birders, especially during migration seasons. The four National Wildlife Refuges of the area exist to protect the unique habitats of the Keys which, in turn, attract a multitude of birds ranging from waders and sea birds to hummingbirds and other small migrators. In all, there are over 250 species of birds that use the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges. You can find out what birds are being seen at the refuge, including the most recent sightings at this link: eBird Trail Tracker. To visit the Refuge’s website click: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/National_Key_Deer_Refuge/wildlife_and_habitat/birds/

The four Florida Keys Refuges are:

1. The National Key Deer Refuge (NKDR), established in 1957 to protect to preserve the endangered Key deer and other wildlife resources, is open year round during daylight hours. There are a host of places in the NKDR that provide excellent birding, and the staff at the Nature Center on Big Pine Key can provide suggestions depending on what species you are looking for. Three of the refuge areas – Blue Hole, where there is a wildlife viewing platform overlooking a pond in an abandoned quarry, the Mannillo and Watson Nature Trails, and Long Beach Trail – are part of the Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Trail:  http://floridabirdingtrail.com/trail/trail-sections/south-section/key-deer-refuge/.  The Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Bird List can be accessed here: https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/nfk_birdlist.pdf  Here are the general rules for visiting the Key Deer Refuge: Observe posted speed limits. Pets on leash are allowed. Collecting or taking of artifacts, natural features, animals, or plants on government property is prohibited. Please do not litter. No camping or campfires. No motorized vehicles. No hunting or discharging of firearms. Bicycles are not permitted at Blue Hole or on Nature Trails. Feeding, capturing, or harassing wildlife is strictly prohibited.
2. The Key West National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the backcountry waters and mangrove islands from Key West to the Marquesas Keys, was designated by Congress in 1975 and is a “Federal Wilderness Area”. In order to protect sensitive bird nesting, resting and feeding, and sea turtle nesting, certain vessels, including Personal Watercraft (PWC’s), are prohibited and there are areas where boat access is restricted or prohibited. To download a brochure with details of the refuge and rules/regulations in the backcountry click the following link. https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/key-west-great-white-heron-tearsheet.pdf` .
3. The Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1938 as a haven for great white herons and other wildlife, is known locally as the “backcountry” and consists of almost 200,000 acres of open water and islands. The refuge provides critical nesting, feeding, and resting areas for hundreds of species of birds. Wildlife dependent activities are allowed, including saltwater fishing, boating (with some restrictions), snorkeling, scuba diving, wildlife observation, and photography.
4. The Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, on upper Key Largo, was established in 1980 and covers 6,700 acres, including 650 acres of open water. It contains a mosaic of habitat types including tropical hardwood hammock, mangrove forest, and salt marsh. Be aware that this refuge is closed to the public, but visitors can access the native pollinator garden and a refuge kiosk seven days a week during daylight hours.

The wild habitats of the Keys include:

1. Pine Rockland which occurs at elevations 3 to 8 feet above mean sea level and are usually underlain by a freshwater lens. The NKDR home to the only pine rockland habitat in the Florida Keys.

2. Tropical Hardwood Hammocks occur on uplands 2 to 8 feet above sea level, These hardwood forests consisting of a wide diversity trees and shrubs whose small fruits and berries are important food sources for resident and migratory birds.

3. Mangrove Forests are among the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world and an important habitat for wildlife. They are critical nesting, resting, and feeding sites for many birds including wading birds, magnificent frigatebirds, white crowned-pigeons, osprey, bald eagles, and resident and migratory songbirds. Please consider the birds as you are exploring the backcountry as they can be especially sensitive to human disturbance.  Avoid boating too close to mangrove islands (Use binoculars or telephoto lens for a better look.) Follow directions on signs and informational buoys.  Dispose of your trash (especially fishing line) properly. Report injured birds to the refuge, Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC), or local wildlife rehabilitation center.

4. Freshwater wetlands reach their greatest extent and distribution on Big Pine Key, but refuge lands on Cudjoe, No Name, Upper Sugarloaf, Big Torch, Little Pine, and Howe Keys also contain freshwater wetlands year-round.

There are 354 species listed on the Florida Keys Audubon Society’s checklist of the Birds of the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas. Here’s a link to the Florida Keys Audubon Society website https://keysaudubon.org/birds 

Speaking of migration, here’s a link to the Florida Keys HawkWatch https://floridakeyshawkwatch.com/  In 2018, they counted 19,000 raptors.