Florida provides a natural funnel through which millions of migratory birds pass each year either on their way to wintering grounds in the Caribbean and Central America or on their way back to breeding grounds in the United States and Canada. This phenomenon can be witnessed at key migration watchpoints throughout the state, mainly at coastal sites in the spring.

Bird watching in Florida is a big deal – even bigger than you might imagine. The awesome thing about birdwatching is you can do it anywhere, anytime. In fact, birding is second only to beach-related activities as a form of outdoor recreation for both visitors and residents. 

Identifying birds is at the very heart of bird watching. Each bird encountered is like a little puzzle or mystery to solve, because, while birds of a single species all share a certain set of physical traits, no two individual birds, like no two individual humans, are exactly alike.

There are numerous resources in print and online to ensure successful birding in Florida. For starters, visit the Florida Bird Watching page. Another excellent reference is the American Birding Association’s A Birder’s Guide to Florida by Bill Pranty. Florida has a designated birding trail, called the Great Florida Birding Trail, which points out the birdiest locations in the state. Both print and online guides are available to help you plan your trip here. Florida also hosts numerous birding festivals every fall, including one of the largest in the country, the Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival, held in Titusville.

If you are looking to find something new to do this weekend this might be fun to try out.

Happy Friday!