Birding at Biscayne National Park, Florida

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Biscayne Bay, including Biscayne National Park, has been designated an Important Bird Area for its significant populations of protected species, its significant numbers of wading birds, and its natural habitats for avian feeding, migratory stopover, and nesting. Some of the great places to bird in Biscayne National Park are: Convoy Point. The main entrance road often hosts Yellow-crowned Night Herons (drive carefully!). The visitor parking area is a great place for migratory warblers. Loggerhead Shrikes and Northern Mockingbirds are yearlong residents in the area around the Visitor Center. Biscayne National Park has one of the largest populations of Mangrove Cuckoo in Florida, and this difficult-to-find species has been observed in the Visitor Center area. The jetty walk can include some surprises, and during low tide look carefully among the rocks at the bird sanctuary at the jetty's end, where a myriad of shorebirds (especially wintering shorebirds), terns and Double-crested Cormorants can be observed. The islands that can be seen near Mowry Canal often serve as a vulture roost for both Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures. And in mornings and evenings, hundreds of wading birds - primarily White Ibis - fly overhead to or from their island roosting sites in the southern parts of the park. Black Point. Visitors might hear a Mangrove Cuckoo, or see shorebirds on the jetty. Prairie Warblers are commonly heard. The end of the jetty is a bird sanctuary, please stay on the jetty and do not wander onto the rocks. Look carefully with binoculars or a spotting scope among the rocks for shorebirds, especially in the winter. Biscayne Bay. Home to hundreds of Double-crested Cormorants year-round, the bay in winter also hosts Northern Gannets, Common Loons, White Pelicans and sometimes even Horned Grebes. Jones Lagoon. Please observe the recommended set-back distance of 100 meters (about 300 feet) from nesting colonies, keep quiet and you will be rewarded with the spectacular experience of being able to observe a colony of wading birds tending to their nests and young. Remember that the Lagoon is a non-combustion engine use zone. Elliott Key. The key has a variety of habitats including tropical hardwood hammock, mangrove forest and beach. Due to its offshore location, a variety of rarities from the Caribbean have occurred over the years. Will you be the next birder to see a Bahama Mockingbird or a Bananaquit? In addition, the forested areas attract birds you wouldn't expect to see several miles from the mainland. Even a Red-headed Woodpecker was once observed near the group campsite. Try birding the Central Hiking Trail where you might see Red-shouldered Hawks or warblers, or the boardwalk on the island's oceanside coast where you could see a beautiful line of flying Brown Pelicans coasting the winds. The marina often hosts shorebirds such as Ruddy Turnstones and Least Sandpipers as well as Royal Terns, Ring-billed Gulls and Laughing Gulls. Boca Chita. From the northern beach, you can see several wading birds and Brown Pelicans on the abandoned pilings near Ragged Key #5. If you see a closed-off area on a grassy field, it might be a Wilson's Plover nesting area - please maintain a respectful distance and use binoculars. Park biologists are concerned about a recent decline in numbers for this species. Shorebirds use the boat basin walls during high tide to rest, and Royal Terns are abundant. Fowey Rocks Light and Pacific Reef Light. These offshore locations often host Brown Boobies, but don't be fooled by the Brown Pelicans that also like these remote sites! When offshore, check the skies for Magnificent Frigatebirds soaring overhead, and scan the horizons for petrels and shearwaters.

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