The Devil’s Garden Property
Devil’s Garden is a bird-lovers paradise. Within the 7,ooo acres of this Florida wild birds nature park, there are several uniquely different settings.
Devils Garden is a large working ranch with vast open prairie, countless tree hammocks, and vast wetlands covered in birds. The normally rare snail kite thrives here due to an abundance of snails readily available for their picking. The property is literally littered with the shells of snails which have been feasted on by our wild birds. In addition to snail kites, a vast number of other species such as sandhill cranes, ibis, limpkins, roseate spoonbills, hawks and even occasional eagles and osprey can be seen on our tours.
Florida Wild Birds…up close and personal.
We’ve created elevated viewing areas from which you can see hundreds of Florida’s wild birds. Miles of trails through oak heads and prairies allow you to see Florida the way it used to be.
Some birding locations are accessible only by guided ATVs. You’ll find ours comfortable and quiet, and your guide will take you to these more remote areas for viewing and photography opportunities.
A guided tour
Be sure to bring your binoculars and/or camera. You will also want a hat, some sunscreen, sturdy walking shoes which can get wet (although we’ll try to keep your shoes dry), and sunglasses (preferably polarized). We recommend thin cotton pants if you have them, shorts if you don’t.
There are restrooms throughout the property, and we’ll have plenty of cold water on hand.
Reservations are required. Call us today to plan your visit !
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I was on the dike yesterday for just an hour or so in the morning and saw so many snail kites I couldn’t believe it. When one of them isn’t swooping down to snag a fat snail you can easily spot them in treetops, on poles and clinging to branches. I also saw quite a few wood storks and whistling ducks.
I agree, I have never seen so many snail kites in a single place in my life. I had hoped to see at least one, but what I got by far exceeded my snail kite expectations! Thanks to the Birds of Devils Garden park for providing such a wonderful experience!
From what I’ve read they are almost extinct, so Devils Garden is serving as a valuable feeding ground and nesting area. The apple snails are huge and plentiful because of all the water… and some folks said recently they saw them eating zebra snails, as well.
We had a wonderful tour on Sunday, Dec. 19th with Doug Zipperer. Like other postings we saw lots of snail kites plus herons, egrets, hawks, and more. We look forward to returning. It”s a great new birding destination for SW Florida birding enthusiasts.
We’re so glad you had a great time! Please feel free to share our website with your birding friends …..and we hope to see you again soon.
I was one of the trip leaders for the Big O Birding Festival this week. We had a great time. Attached is a link to all the photos I took that day. This link is specific to Devils Garden (it also has some afternoon pictures from Dinner Island). Can’t wait until next year!
We had a fabulous time today on our tour! The birding was excellent, along with otter and deer sightings. The terrain was simply gorgeous, and it was such a good opportunity to view many types of habitats. Thanks so much for a great time!
Fantastic, Susan! So happy to read this.
Otters and deer are a nice bonus!
Where are you actually located in respect of lake O??
Hi Gerry,
Although our postal address is Clewiston (which is on Lake Okechobee), Hendry County is HUGE.
Our bird park is actually much farther south . . . it’s east of Fort Myers, west of Lauderdale, and just north of I-75 eastbound.
If you’re familiar with Billie Swamp Safari, we are near that. We’re also near the town of Immokalee.
There are maps on our site, at Getting Here .
What a fantastic trip !!!
A unique opportunity to get up close to some of the more difficult to see birds in Florida
Our guide tailored the trip to show us what we really wanted to see and on the way we were educated on many aspects of life, wildlife and the many different habitats in this fasinating and remote part of the State
Snail Kite, Northern Harriers and Cacacara were the highlights for us and we got very close to all of them providing some great photographic opportunities
Please note – This is a fairly remote location and the facilites are very basic with no real other options near by !!! so plan accordingly and you will have a great day.
My wife and I enjoyed the the tour very much today. We saw many birds, a Bobcat and of course alligators. Jose explained the ecology of this area, farming, fishing, hunting and birds.
Our guide Jose was great!!
Thanks so much for a fantastic time and we will come back soon.
Devils Garden Bird Park will be a featured early morning Big “O” Birding Festival tours.
Paddy Cunningham will be leading the trip along with other prestigious birders.
Devils Garden Bird Park, Hendry, US-FL
Oct 17, 2012 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
Comments: Scouting Trip for the Big “O” Birding Festival
41 species
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Wood Stork
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill 4
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Limpkin
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Least Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Common Ground-Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Crested Caracara
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1
Loggerhead Shrike
American Crow
Fish Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Devils Garden Bird Park (South Hendry County) this morning.
Devils Garden Bird Park, Hendry, US-FL
Oct 17, 2012 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling5.0 mile(s)41 species5 participants
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Wood Stork
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill 4
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Limpkin
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Least Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Common Ground-Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Crested Caracara
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1
Loggerhead Shrike
American Crow
Fish Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Rhonda Roff saw the Whooping Crane at Devils Garden Bird Park today!
It was great to see and photograph the Whooping Crane #12-16 at Devils’ Garden yesterday. Our ride into the palm & oak hammock was splendid, and the Barred Owls put on quite a show.
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