Valentine’s Day may have passed, but
love is in the air at Florida’s newest birding destination.
Hawks eggs are everywhere
Here are Devils Garden Bird Park, we are seeing eggs, eggs, eggs. The owner reports that many birds are focued on mating rituals. “A lot of pairing up is going on,” he says with a smile.
Tour guides have found the first hawk eggs on the property, and several other species are following suit. In fact, all the romance has not been limited to birds. The property is teeming with baby otters, a bonus for nature photographers, animal lovers and school field trips.
But the birds, of course, are the
main focus here at Devils Garden Bird Park - from the endangered snail kite to all the wonderful migratory birds calling our site home this winter.
To come see eggs-actly what’s going on in nest after nest, call to reserve your tour today. Spring has sprung and love is in the air.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi,
I am visiting the area in the middle of September this year and I was interested to know what the birdlife is like at that time of year. I am an enthusiast bird photographer and use a 500mm lens . Would you kindly give me some indication of what is likely to be some of the more unusual birds that I could photograph at that time of year.
Many thanks
Malcolm
Malcolm, we won’t have our migratory species yet, but that will not hamper your birdwatching experience one bit. Our most amazing residents, the snail kites, are both rare and endangered, but you’ll not believe how many of them call Devils Garden home. The male and female are quite different from each other. You should get great shots of them eating and/or carrying large apple snails if you’re patient and have a good zoom lens. Look through our birds list (compiled at a very nearby birding station) and you’ll see there are over 100 species which have been spotted in our immediate area. This is, in large part, because we have such a wide variety of habitat (prairie, hammock, wetlands). For a September visit, plan on early morning (afternoons are usually rainy) and book your trip for early in your vacation, in case you have to reschedule for weather. Waiting until the last day can cause heartbreak. It will be quite hot and humid, so wearing cotton is highly advisable, as is a hat, sunscreen and polarized sunglasses ($15-20 in most Florida drugstores). We’ll have water for you when you arrive. You’ll have a wonderful birding experience and we look forward to your visit!