Kite Tales September 2023 - The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail Newsletter

September 2023 View this newsletter as a web page Special Edition! Fourteen New Sites Added to the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail!

Fourteen New Sites Added to the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail! Images from new Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail Sites. Last October the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail began accepting new site nominations for the first time since 2011. Anyone could nominate a site for addition to the Trail until the nomination period ended in February 2023. Candidate sites were evaluated on their birding and wildlife viewing opportunities, ecological significance, educational opportunities, access for the public and resilience to recreational use. Successful applicants ranged from large nature preserves to beloved community parks. The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is excited to welcome the following new sites: Sweetwater Wetlands Park Boardwalk by Darby Guyn. Photo taken at Sweetwater Wetlands Park. This park in Alachua County is a well-known hotspot frequented by rare birds and iconic Florida wildlife. Some of the exciting birds found at the park include the occasional Vermillion Flycatcher and park regulars like Snail Kites, Limpkins, Virginia and King Rails, Great Horned Owls and Painted Buntings. Learn more here. Robinson Preserve White Pelican by Travis Blunden. Photo taken at Robinson Preserve. Located at the mouth of the Manatee River in Bradenton, more than 200 bird species have been recorded at this popular recreation area. Look for Wood Storks, White Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Clapper Rails, Southeastern American Kestrels, Great Horned Owls and a variety of ducks, herons, egrets, sandpipers, plovers, gulls and terns. Learn more here. Ocala Wetland Recharge Park Black-bellied Whistling Ducks by City of Ocala. Photo taken at Ocala Wetland Recharge Park. This constructed wetland recharges the Upper Floridan Aquifer. Birders and wildlife viewers will enjoy its diverse wildlife, easy walking paths and many educational displays. The park is home to Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Red-winged Blackbirds and the occasional Purple Gallinule, and uncommon birds like Virginia Rails, Soras, LeConte’s Sparrows and Black-necked Stilts have been spotted. Learn more here. Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Sunrise at the Pedestrian Pier by Peter De Witt. Photo taken at Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse ONA. Located where the Indian River Lagoon and Loxahatchee River meet, this site attracts a wide variety of birds from warblers to waders and is an excellent place to see spring and fall migrants. As you gaze up at the iconic lighthouse, check the sky for Magnificent Frigatebirds and other seabirds. Learn more here. Lafayette Heritage Trail Park Wood Duck Pair by Tara Tanaka. Photo taken at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park. This park is part of an extensive trail network connecting four parks in Tallahassee and creating a valuable habitat for birds and other wildlife in an otherwise urban area. Look for Common and Purple Gallinules, Wood Ducks and the occasional Limpkin and Forster's Tern. Learn more here.

The Nature Conservancy’s Tiger Creek Preserve Otter by Linda Fish. Photo taken at the Nature Conservancy's Tiger Creek Preserve. This remote wilderness in Lake Wales harbors rare plants and animals found only in Central Florida. Over ten miles of hiking trails let visitors explore safely. During breeding season look for young Bald Eagles, Barred Owls, Swallow-tailed Kites or swooping Great-crested Flycatchers. Learn more here. Dr. Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park Saltmarsh Sparrow by James Hill. Photo taken at Dr. Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park. Named for a prominent civil rights activist, this small park in St. Augustine is a favorite with its local Audubon Society chapter. It sits on the tip of a peninsula overlooking an expansive salt marsh, offering great views of the many birds that live there. Nine species of sparrows have been documented at this location, including Nelson's, Seaside, Saltmarsh and Savannah Sparrows. Learn more here. Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area Mangrove Boardwalk by Wendy Swindell. Photo taken at Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area. This new site in Vero Beach opened in February 2023 and is adjacent to Round Island Riverside Park and Conservation Area, extending a wildlife viewing area for birders looking to explore Indian River Lagoon. Look for waders including Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night Herons. Learn more here. Cypress Creek Natural Area Box Turtle by Ann Matthews. Photo taken at Cypress Creek Natural Area. Successful wetland restoration activities and frequent prescribed fire at this site have created excellent habitats attracting over 110 bird species. Florida Sandhill Cranes, Swallow-tailed Kites and multiple kinds of herons have been documented nesting on the site. Learn more here. North Jupiter Flatwoods Natural Area Red-shouldered Hawk by Ann Mathews. Photo taken at North Jupiter Flatwood Natural Area. This 163-acre natural area includes a sensory-friendly trail, is home to many wading birds and is a waypoint for a variety of migratory songbirds including Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Blue Warblers. Resident raptors include Southeastern American Kestrels and Great Horned Owls. Learn more here. Pine Glades Natural Area Bobwhite Quail by Ann Mathews. Photo taken at Pine Glades Natural Area. This large wetland protects many important habitats including cypress swamps, freshwater marshes, wet prairies and uplands dominated by majestic slash pine trees. It is best known for its fireflies, stunning sunsets and birdlife, including Snail Kites year-round and King Rails in fall and spring. Learn more here. Winding Waters Natural Area Common Gallinule Family by Ann Mathews. Photo taken at Winding Waters Natural Area. This restored wetland in urban West Palm Beach attracts abundant birdlife with Bald Eagles, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Loggerhead Shrikes, Anhingas and Belted Kingfishers making regular appearances. Learn more here. Yamato Scrub Natural Area Northern Parula by Ann Mathews. Photo taken at Yamato Scrub Natural Area. This rare ecosystem in the heart of Boca Raton is a rest stop for migrating birds such as American Redstarts and various warblers and is a year-round home for wading birds, coots and gallinules. Learn more here. Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area Bay Sunset by Robbie Neighbors. Photo taken at Escribano Point Wildlife Managment Area. This remote natural area located on the gulf coast is perfect for birding off the beaten path. Explore the hiking trails to find Eastern Towhees and Brown-headed Nuthatches, or paddle the shoreline for terns and Black Skimmers. Learn more here.

The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (GFBWT) is a network of over 500 sites throughout the state. The Trail is a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, supported in part by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. The Trail is possible thanks to dozens of federal, state, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private landowners.

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