The Binocular Site
Everglades National Park, Florida
The world famous Everglades National Park is a large marshland area covering most of the southern tip of Florida.
The fragile ecosystem of the Everglades has become designated as an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and is home to thirty-six species of animals that have been listed as threatened or endangered.
The Everglades National Park was established over sixty years ago and covers 1.5 million acres of fresh and brackish water wetlands. The park receives over a million visitors each year and is a popular spot for wilderness watching, canoeing, and camping.
There are some 350 species of birds recorded around the Everglades. Many migratory birds from the north make it their winter home and the large mangrove ecosystem is a vital breeding ground for many tropical wading birds.
You can expect to see a great variety of birds including herons, osprey, shorebirds, and other waterfowl. Keep a close eye out for Roseate Spoonbills, Short-tailed Hawks, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, and Purple Gallinules.
The state bird in Florida is officially the Northern Mockingbird and you can find a checklist for birdwatching in Florida here.
Photo credit to jasonsewall, used with permission under the creative commons license. You can learn more about the recreation and wildlife of the Everglades and see various pictures here.
If you've visited Everglades National Park, please take the time to share your experience and any tips or insight you have about this Florida birdwatching location below.
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