National Go Birding Day: Visit Orlando Wetlands Park, a birder’s paradise
National Go Birding Day falls on the last Saturday of April, inviting birders of all experience levels to go outside and turn their eyes to the skies.
Central Florida is home to myriad avian residents, from petite warblers and woodpeckers to formidable birds of prey. In many outdoor destinations, look out for sandhill cranes, great blue herons, red-bellied woodpeckers, barred owls, red-shouldered hawks, grackles, red-winged blackbirds and osprey.
The 1,650-acre man-made Orlando Wetlands Park in eastern Orange County was built as a natural way to treat municipal wastewater, creating a lush habitat with plant and animal life. Within the last few years, the City of Orlando improved the visitor experience by adding a 2,200-foot boardwalk and is currently constructing a new education center.
Setting off from the parking lot, the boardwalk sits about 1/3 of a mile from the start of the flat gravel trail and serves as the focal point of the park. On the eastern side, keep an eye out for baby egrets, spoonbills and herons in their nests, plus wood storks high in the trees. The occasional woodpecker may poke its head out to observe passersby.
More than 200 species of birds have been reported at the park, including a variety of herons, bald eagles, belted kingfishers, anhingas, ducks and sandhill cranes. Watch your step, as alligators are abundant in this wildlife hot spot. Otters, bobcats, deer, turtles and snakes may also be spotted.
During a visit to Orlando Wetlands, it’s possible to hike anywhere from a mile to 10 miles or more with access to the adjacent Charles H. Bronson State Forest and the Florida Trail.
Pack a birding guide, binoculars, or a camera with a long lens to document sightings when heading out. Along sunny trails with little tree cover, it’s also wise to pack a hat and sun protection. Tech-savvy birders can download the Merlin app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which can suggest an ID and provide calls for almost any bird.
Remember to mind your distance and respect wildlife. After all, it’s their home you’re exploring.
Important information
Location: 25155 Wheeler Road in Christmas
Hours: Open sunrise to sunset Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays)
Amenities: Benches, boardwalk, hiking trails, picnic tables and pavilion, overlooks, parking, restrooms, water fountain
Activities: Bicycling, birding, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, nature photography, wildlife viewing
Accessibility: The main trail at Orlando Wetlands Park is on a gravel road/berm and should be accessible for most motorized scooters or chairs.
What to bring: Binoculars and a camera can help to get up close with the avian residents of Orlando Wetlands Park. Pack water, snacks, and sun protection to spend time on the trails.
What not to bring: Alcohol is not allowed. Pets, littering, swimming, hunting, fishing, boating and camping are all prohibited camping, campfires and motor vehicles are all prohibited. Drones are not allowed.
Pets: Pets are not allowed at Orlando Wetlands Park.
Pro tips:The boardwalk is smartly situated next to areas where egrets, spoonbills, great blue herons and wood storks nest, so be sure to spend time visiting with the fauna found in that area. Wooded trails can be found on the south and eastern sides of the park for seeking shade after spending time in the sun.
More information: 407-568-1706 or orlando.gov
Other birding destinations
Lake Apopka North Shore features a network of trails and a wildlife drive (open Friday-Sunday and holidays) with plenty of birding opportunities. More than 300 different bird species have been recorded on the property. More information: sjrwmd.com
Lyonia Preserve, behind the Deltona Regional Library, is home to the endemic Florida scrub jay as well as gopher tortoises, cardinals, eastern towhees, hawks, cottontails and frogs. Set on 360 acres of restored Florida scrub habitat, the preserve provides more than four miles of trails for hiking and wildlife viewing. More information: volusia.org
Johns Lake Conservation Area south of Winter Garden is Orange County’s newest outdoor hotspot, with a bird blind for visitors to use and watch nature without being seen. More information: orangecountyfl.net
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is “one of Florida’s premier birding sites with more than 330 recorded species,” according to the Great Florida Birding Trail. Head out on a hike or drive the 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive to see bald eagles, Florida scrub-jays, belted kingfishers, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, swallow-tailed kites, herons, egrets and many more species of birds. More information: fws.gov
Circle B Bar Reserve comprises over 1,200 protected acres near Lakeland. When hiking up to six miles, watch for roseate spoonbills, swallow-tailed hikes, great blue herons, hawks, ospreys, owls, woodpeckers, Carolina wrens, gallinules and plenty more. More information: polknature.com
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