Destination Spotlight - Gulf Coast - Florida USA Bird watchingFlorida attracts "twitchers" from all over the world, drawn by the vast array of migratory and resident birdlife.The  South West Florida Birding Festival takes place on the 19-21 January 2007 providing an excellent opportunity to learn about the rich bird life of this region. There will be guided trips and expert presentations. Full details can be found on the Rookery Bay website (see below)
The estuaries, inlets, back-waters and country parks provide many bird-watching opportunities along the Gulf Coast some of the most popular locations are listed below: - Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary in Sarasota is one of the largest Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centers in the U.S., and home to over 70 species of Florida's native and migratory birds.
- The Rookery Bay mangrove estuary, just south of Naples, is home to over 150species of birds including bald eagles, ospreys, roseate spoonbills, black skimmers, and least terns.
- The Sanibel Lighthouse at the eastern tip of the island is a prime viewing spot, particularly during the October migration. Birds spotted here include warblers and Peregrine falcons.
- The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve near Fort Myers has a boardwalk trail and observation decks for visitors, where you can spy wild turkeys, blue jay, herons and woodpeckers as well as a variety of other wildlife. Other visitors include bobcats, raccoons,deer and squirrel.
- The "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is a hotspot for migratory bird populations and serves as a stopover for a number of species, including egrets and night herons.
- The riverfront at Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva is home to blue egrets and great blue herons as well as a vast array of other local wildlife and plant species.
- Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area, Dunedin has an Osprey trail for a rare glimpse of these magnificent birds in their natural habitat.
Reading to get you in the moodThe Rough Guide to Florida by Mark Ellwood, Todd Obolsky, and Ross Velton Drivesafe Abroad (a guide to road signs) by Neil Farley and Ceri Williams Florida Gulf Coast (Moon Handbooks) by Laura Reiley Cross Creek by Marjorie Rawlings Kinnan The Language of Sharks by Pat MacEnulty Nine Florida Stories by Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Kevin McCarthy Beachcomber's Guide to Gulf Coast Marine Life: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (Beachcomber's Guide) by Susan B. Rothschild and Nick Fotheringham The Florida Cookbook: From Gulf Coast Gumbo to Key Lime Pie by Jeanne Voltz and Caroline Stuart
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