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Area Birding Spots
CELERY FIELDS
300-acre, former farmland converted into shallow and deep water for large and small wading birds. Excellent during migrations and for wintering birds. Ducks, coots, gallinules, rails, spoonbills, whistling ducks, sparrows, hawks, eagles and limpkin may be present. There’s easy birding on a board walk off Palmer Ave and another off Raymond rd. with Audubon volunteers most morning to help visitors see the birds.
PINECRAFT PARK
Small 60-acre county park on the east side of Phillippi Creek. Great for migrating warblers, songbirds, resident Barred Owls and more. Short, rough winding trails pass through a wooded area.
MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK
One of Florida’s largest and most diverse natural area. Thepinec Myakka River flows through 12 miles of the 28,875-acre park. There are 39 miles of marked trails. During winter, Audubon volunteers help visitors identify birds at the boardwalk area. Eagles, osprey, wading birds, ducks, spoonbills and limpkins can be seen. Turkeys might be seen along the road ways. A bridge up the road from the park entrance is a hotspot for birds and large alligators. DIRECTIONS: Take I-75 to Exit 205. The park entrance is about 10 miles east of I-75 on Clark Rd (S R 72).
- More details
- 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota, 34241
- Entrance Fee
OSCAR SCHERER STATE PARK
The park features the area’s largest population of Florida Scrub-Jays. Pine flatwoods offer a variety of year-round resident species, including five species of woodpeckers. Bald Eagles nest in the park. Warblers and songbirds are seen during migration. Thursday bird walks are offered weekly by Audubon volunteers in the fall/winter months.
LAKE JERVEY NATURE PATH AT STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
The college allows visitors to walk on a one-mile paved path around Lake Jervey. Enjoy herons, egrets, and other wading birds, Common and Purple Gallinules and many other birds. Lake Jervey is a bird nesting hot spot in January through May for Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Cattle Egrets, Anhinga, Ibis and other birds.
GRAND LAKE AT WELLEN PARK
The Venice area’s newest hot spot features a two-mile paved and shell walkway around Grand Lake, created in the new Wellen Park community. The lake’s littoral shelves, along with surrounding wetlands, attract a wide variety of wading birds. Open water brings wintering ducks and grebes. Directions: Turn off Tamiami Trail at Preto Blvd. Turn left onto Sunglow Blvd. and proceed to downtown. Ample parking is available near the downtown Wellen Park square.
SHAMROCK PARK
An 82-acre Sarasota County Park bordering the Intercoastal Waterway in South Venice. Look for Florida Scrub-Jays and Gopher Tortoises. Wading birds can be found along the waterway. Osprey and Eagles can often be seen. During migration, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks and Merlins might be seen.
SOUTH VENICE LEMON BAY PRESERVE
225 acre preserve divided into two parts in South Venice bordering Lemon Bay. Florida Scrub-Jays might be seen along with warblers, woodpeckers, hawks, and other birds.
- More details
- South parking: 6200 Osprey Rd, South Venice, FL, 34293
- North parking: 5472 Kenisco Rd. Venice, FL 34293
DEER PRAIRIE CREEK PRESERVE
Large 6439 acre preserve bordering the Myakka River in North Port including north and south entrances. 70 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Warblers, woodpeckers (including Red-Headed Woodpeckers), herons, egrets, turkeys, Swallow-tailed Kites, Florida Scrub-Jays and Brown-headed Nuthatches might be seen.
- More details
- North entrance: 7001 Forbes Trail, Venice, FL
- South entrance: 10201 S. Tamiami Trail, North Port, FL
SLEEPING TURTLES NORTH
174 acre preserve in two parts on either side of Border Rd. Largely oak hammock habitat with 4.7 miles of trails through oak woods along the west bank of the Myakka River. Warblers, woodpeckers, hawks, and other birds. Wading birds might be seen along the river banks. Migratory song birds might be seen during spring and fall migration.
SLEEPING TURTLES SOUTH
213 acre preserve along the Myakka River. Mixed pine and oak woods habitat with a 20 acre lake in center of preserve. 5.5 miles of trails. Warblers, woodpeckers, hawks and other birds. Migratory song birds might be seen during spring and fall migration.
JELKS PRESERVE
Sarasota County, 600 acres natural area sandwiched in between N. River Road and the Myakka River. Several hiking trails that traverse a variety of habitats which include pine flatwoods, oak hammock, wet and dry prairies. Songbirds, hawks, Swallow-tailed Kites along with spring and fall migrators.
VENICE ROOKERY
The Venice Area Audubon Rookery is located on a small island on a pond that provides a secure place for birds to nest, raise young and roost at night. The closeness of the island to the shore (about 50’) provides photographers and birders from around the world an excellent view of the nesting birds. The park features a pavilion with picnic tables and a nearby parking area. Nesting season begins in December with the peak from February thru April. Primary nesting birds includes the Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Anhinga and Cormorant. Glossy Ibis, Black-crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Tri-colored Heron and Common Gallinule also nest in smaller numbers. Also featured is a colony of Purple Martins. Many visitors come to the rookery a little before sunset to see the spectacle of the birds coming in to roost. When it is almost dark the bats come out of the bat boxes located near the lake.
- More details
- 4006 Annex Road, Venice, FL, 34293
- Behind the Sarasota County Anderson Building on Annex Rd.
CARLTON RESERVE
Sarasota County Park of about 100 acres size located within the 24000-acre Carlton Reserve. The park is the access point for the larger Reserve and adjacent Lincer and Oak Cathedral preserves. The preserve includes 100+ miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Trail maps are available at the park. Trails tend to flood during the rainy season. The natural undisturbed habitats contained within the park include wet and dry prairies, oak hammock, pine flatwoods and forested wetlands. VAAS has identified 153 bird species, including Swallow-tailed Kites, Bachman Sparrows, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Eastern Bluebirds and six species of woodpeckers.
INFO
Email: info@veniceaudubon.org Telephone: 941-496-8984 Sarasota County Call Center: 941-861-5000 (General information and directions) |
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