I thoroughly enjoyed your "Drinks With Steve" YouTube presentation yesterday. A question raised during the session was, "What are your favorite locations in Florida for wildlife photography?" You quickly rattled off (as you prefaced, "in no particular order") locations such as Circle B Bar Reserve, Fort DeSoto, Merritt Island, Viera Wetlands, Orlando Wetlands in Christmas, FL, Venice Rookery, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, and Green Cay Nature Preserve. Are there particular seasons that are best to visit these areas or perhaps more importantly, seasons to avoid?
Given all we've been through with COVID in 2020, an automobile trip to Florida in early to mid-2021 would be most desirable. What time of year is best to visit any of these locations? With more time to reflect, just how would you rank them? I've looked at each online, but none mention ideal times for viewing or whether any migratory birds are present at any given time during the year.
Hi Herb
Florida is a huge state as far as wildlife is concerned. There is a lot of ground to cover and just 2-3 locations would typically be enough for a trip of a week or 10 days. You've got year round residents including some that are migrants in other areas, migrants that winter in Florida, and migrants that pass through Florida to northern areas, and migrants that come from other areas to summer in Florida.
I'd plan on southern Florida for the first three months. Everglades and Big Cypress alone would be a good trip, but you could easily add Corkscrew Swamp, Venice Rookery, Myakka and Fort DeSoto. Circle B Bar is also not far away. While you are traveling, you could also stop at Paynes Prairie near Gainesville.
Beginning in Mid-March and continuing through the end of May, you have wading bird rookeries at Gatorland or the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. I prefer mid April for St. Augustine. Be sure to get the Photographer's Pass.
The coasts are terrific year around. Merritt Island requires some planning because it can close unexpectedly. I prefer Fort DeSoto near St. Pete. It's relatively compact and offers just about every bird you can imagine. Nesting ospreys are almost like pigeons - if it does not have a fish in it's talons you don't bother. There are great locations for wading birds, shorebirds, and songbirds - choose your poison. It's close enough that you can use Bradenton/Sarasota or St. Pete/Tampa as your base.
Finishing your loop, keep in mind the Okefenokee is also a terrific location from late March through mid-May. Later the bugs are brutal. The Okefenokee birds can be a little skittish, but it also has alligators, deer, snakes and lots more. You could visit the east side near Waycross and Jekyll Island, or the west side at Stephen Foster State Park nearer Valdosta. Stephen foster is remote, but they have cabins you can rent. Keep in mind the Okefenokee requires travel by boat - usually a canoe (available for rent) is the choice. On the east side, there is a good concessionaire with private guides and public cruises in motorized boats.
Drop me a note if you want to talk in more detail.
