Birding in Orlando & Fort Lauderdale

[Edith]

I am going to this area next week and was wondering if anyone if familar with where to go 'birding' ?

[Leslie Kinrys]

Try the Birding Pal site at http://www.birdingpal.org/  You can look up birding pals for the cities you'll be visiting. You can ask for tips or even meet up with someone and tour their favourite spots. Also, you might want to check out the Great Florida Birding Trail at http://www.floridabirdingtrail.com/
and the Fatbirder at http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/amer ... orida.html
for other information.

I hope this helps and have a wonderful trip.

[Iain]

Markham County Park is a great spot for Snail Kites and many waders.  West of Fort-Lauderdale on the 595 (try google maps).

Iain

[Pat Hodgson]

much depends on what you want to see and how far you will drive outside of those cities

on the NW side of Orlando is a good spot called Wekiwa Springs State Park - good place for limpkin

closer in you could try Clear Lake Park or Orlando Wetland Parks (see Orlando city parks web site)

Nature Conservancy's Disney Wilderness Preserve is a bit south of Orlando and has some good hiking trails

near the above, Southport Road in Kissimmee (use google maps or similar) is a good drive for some open-country species, loggerhead shrike is possible (or maybe not, in September)

if you consider driving the back way from Orlando to Ft L, consider going via the Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, this is the best area to see Florida scrub-jay

I don't know Ft L specifically, but of course going down to the everglades has lots of possibilities

[Edith]

Thank you for all the info...If i should get good photos, i will post them.
thanks again..

[Lloyd]

Hi Edith. When in Orlando, don't forget to visit the NASA owned Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. It's located in Titusville, about 80 KM (50 miles) due east of Orlando and a snap to get to along hwy. 528. You'll easily identify all the herons and egrets and might be lucky enough to spot a Florida Scrub Jay. A highlight for me was seeing several Florida Manatee in the Indian River.