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Birding
Hotspots
The
Space Coast’s Best Known
Birding and Wildlife Sites
[Select
here to view locations on map]
The
Space Coast Distinction 
A unique combination of high tech space travel and
an unmatched diverse, natural environment. The Indian River Lagoon,
America’s most diverse estuary, is home to more than 4,000
species of birds, plants, animals, including 30 endangered species.
The Florida Scrub Jay (Florida’s only endemic bird), Bald Eagle,
Manatee, nesting sea turtles and several endemic plant species call
Brevard home. Enjoy your journey into Space Coast’s natural environment!
Merritt
Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island NWR is one of the top birding sites along the Florida
Atlantic coast. To reach the refuge from US1 in Titusville, go east
on SR406 across the Indian River Lagoon. Scan the duck flocks carefully
in the river along the causeway. An Oldsquaw wintered here last
year. There are many impoundment areas on MINWR, and vehicles are
allowed on many of the dike roads. In winter, waterfowl and American
Coots are abundant here; this is also a good site for Northern Pintails.
A few Eurasian Widgeons are found here almost annually. Cinnamon
Teal occasionally. One of the most productive parts of MINWR is
a one-way driving loop. The Blackpoint Wildlife Drive features wading
birds, waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, terns, raptors, American White
Pelicans, and Brown Pelicans..
Most of the interior of MINWR is covered by vast scrub lands. Combined
with Canaveral Seashore, the refuge contains the world’s largest
population of Florida Scrub Jays. Upland hammocks (also oak and
palm hammock trails) may contain migratory land birds during spring
and fall.
For information: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge,
P 0 Box 6504, Titusville, FL 32782-6504, phone (321) 861-0667.
Canaveral
National Seashore
East of MINWR is Canaveral National Seashore. To reach CNS from
Titusville, go east on SR406 then go right on SR402. You will pass
through scrub lands where Florida Scrub Jays can usually be seen
near the pay station (entrance fee $5). It is hard to ignore the
Space Shuttle launch towers on the right as you drive toward the
beach. The road passes slightly over three miles from the northernmost
launch pad. The combination of the launch towers (especially if
there’s a Shuttle on the pad) reflecting in a pond filled
with wading birds and waterfowl is pretty hard to beat!
At Playalinda Beach the road turns north and runs parallel to the
beach for five miles. Sand dunes are covered with saw palmettos,
sea grapes, sea oats and other coastal strand habitat. There are
many boardwalks over the dune to the unspoiled beach. An occasional
break in the mangroves allows a good view of the Mosquito Lagoon
to the west.
The beach contains wading birds, shorebirds, gulls and terns. The
main draw here is the possibility of pelagic birds in fall and winter.
On days with strong northeast or east winds, boobies, shearwaters,
storm petrels, Northern Gannets and jaegers may be seen offshore.
On the beach look for Sanderlings, Willets, Red Knots, Ruddy Tumstones,
Blackbellied Plovers, Piping Plovers (rare), Laughing Gulls, Ringbilled
Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, Caspian Terns, Royal
Terns, Sandwich Terns (rare), Common Terns (rare), Forsters Terns
and Least Terns. In the fall, watch for migrating raptors. In addition
to common species, Merlins and Peregrine Falcons are seen here regularly,
and some winter at the seashore and the refuge.
On the way out, watch for a road (on the north side of SR402 two
miles west of Playalinda Beach) which winds along the west shore
of Mosquito Lagoon until it ends at SR3. In winter, wading birds,
waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls and terns can be common here as well
as many raptors. For information: Canaveral National Seashore,
308 Julia St, Titusville, FL 32796-3521, phone (321) 267-11
1 0.
Hatbill
Park, Seminole Ranch
To get to Hatbill Park (a County park) go west on SR46, turn left
4.1 miles west of the I-95 intersection (exit 81) and SR46. Look
for signs for Loughman Lake Lodge and Seminole Ranch Conservation
Area. There are hiking trails in Seminole Ranch at 1.1, 2.3 and
4.1 miles from SR46. The road to Hatbill passes through a portion
of the 28,745 acre Seminole Ranch. A variety of habitats are found
here including pine, palmetto, hardwood hammocks, freshwater lakes
river, and wetlands.
Certain areas have a unique plant community supported by connate
saltwater which flows from small springs near Harney and Puzzle
lakes. The salinity of small lakes in the area approaches one-third
that of sea water. Many salt tolerant and marine-dwelling organisms
present here are not found anywhere else in the St. Johns River.
Hatbill Park is a great place to be at sunrise. There are usually
lots of wading birds and some small peeps along with Mottled and
Wood Ducks and other waterfowl. There are Bobwhites and Meadowlarks
as well as Red-winged Blackbirds, Boat-tailed and Common Grackles,
Fish Crows and Anhingas. You can usually find Cardinals, Shrikes,
Eastern (rufous-sided) Towhees and vireos here.
Working along the road you may see Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice, Robins,
Cedar Waxwings, Sedge and Marsh Wrens, Swamp and Savannah Sparrows,
and four species of woodpeckers (Pileated, Red-bellied, Downy and
Flicker). Occasionally seen are Red-headed Woodpeckers and Yellowbellied
Sapsuckers.
You can usually find Pine, Prairie, Black and White, Parula, Palm,
Yellow-throated, and Yellow-rump Warblers in season. Many others
may be found in migration. Solitary and whiteeyed Vireos are here
as well as Red-eyed in migration. Bluegray Gnatcatchers and Brown-headed
Nuthatches are usually around somewhere. Barred Owls, Great Horned
Owls and Screech Owls are also found here.
For information: St. Johns River Water Management District,
Land Management Division, phone (407) 897-3411.
Ulumay
Wildlife Sanctuary
Ulumay is a mosquito impoundment which has good birding except
during the hot summer months. The easiest way to reach the park
is from the intersection of SR3 and SR520 in the town of Merritt
Island. Go north on SR3 to the first traffic light (Merritt Ave),
turn right and proceed east to the second traffic light and turn
left, going north on Sykes Creek Parkway. Look for waterfowl on
both side of the road. Cross the little bridge and turn left into
the park. The entrance road dead ends at a fishing pier (vehicles
are not permitted beyond this point). The trail goes both east and
west. The east trail turns north to an observation tower. About
a mile past the observation tower you reach an open area where you
can observe waterfowl and other water birds. Ulumay is a mangrove/salt
marsh habitat. It is good for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds
and raptors. Bald Eagles are not uncommon and Black Rails have been
seen here in the early morning in the short grass area.
For Information: Brevard County Parks and Recreation, 591
Cone Rd, Merritt Island, FL 32952, phone (321) 455-1312.
Jetty
Park
Go east toward the ocean on SR528 from I-95. After you cross the
Banana River turn left at the traffic light for the entrance to
Port Canaveral (follow signs for South Docks and Jetty Park). Turn
right at the stop sign on George King Blvd. Turn left on North Atlantic
Ave., then right on Jetty Park Rd to Jetty Park (parking fee $1
per car).
As you bird the jetty area, look across the submarine turning basin
for winter birds. In addition to the regular water birds, Northern
Gannets, jaegers and other seabirds may be seen offshore in the
winter. On the beach look for Sanderlings, Willets, Red Knots, Ruddy
Turnstones, Blackbellied Plovers, Piping Plovers (rare), Laughing
Gulls, Ringbilled Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls,
Caspian Terns, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns (rare), Common Terns
(rare), Foster’s Terns and Least Terns. Over and in the water look
for Common Loons, Red-throated Loons (rare), Brown Pelicans, Magnificent
Frigatebirds (rare) and Black Skimmers. Occasionally you may see
a shrimp boat dragging near the shore with hundreds of birds following.
These should be scanned for possible rare oceanic birds. Look north
along the coast to see the land areas that form Cape Canaveral.
When the air is clear you can see the missile gantries and the Cape
Canaveral Lighthouse. Offshore you may see freighters, fishing boats,
submarines, or missile tracking ships.
The beach at Jetty Park plays host to hundreds of migrant gulls
and terns in the fall, particularly in early November. There
are often dozens of Lesser black-backed as well as the occasional
Franklin’s gull.
On the way back out, go west on George King Blvd, turning left
on Mullet Rd and wind your way west, going under the SR401 bridge.
Eventually you will end up at the Port Canaveral locks. There’s
usually a lot of Brown Pelicans, wading birds, shorebirds, gulls
and terns around the locks.
For information: Jetty Park, 400 E Jetty Rd, Cape Canaveral,
FL 32920, phone (321) 783-7111. Camping available.
Sebastian
Inlet State Recreation Area
Sebastian Inlet, the best birding location on Brevard’s south
beaches (over 190 species) is located 17.5 miles south of SR-192
on AlA. (Day parking fee $3.25 per vehicle). The tidal pool to the
north is feeding ground for many shorebirds, wading birds, gulls
and terns. Some unusual species have been observed here. Sandwich
Terns frequent the area in the winter. Check the rocky area leading
from the tidal pool to the inlet for Purple Sandpipers. American
Oystercatchers and Reddish Egrets may be seen. Birding here is best
in early morning before the area becomes crowded.
West of the tidal pool is a grassy area edged by woods; check here
for migrants, woodpeckers and raptors. Look in the mangroves at
the river’s edge for Blackwhiskered Vireos in the spring and summer.
The dead Australian pines surrounding the field north of the tidal
pond at Sebastian Inlet SRA frequently have migrant hawks, including
Peregrines, in fall. There are often Great horned owls at
dawn or dusk
East of the tidal pool is the North Jetty, one of the most popular
fishing and surfing spots on Florida’s east coast. In winter,
on northeast and east winds look for pelagic species such as jaegers,
gannets, and scoters.
North of the north side entrance (about 200 yards before you actually
turn into the park) is a little known but lovely hammock trail to
the river with a rough path circling south along the Indian River
Lagoon and back to the main trail. This can be superior for migrants,
warblers, and scaring up Chuck-will’s-widows in late winter
and spring. Ask a ranger for specific direction to the trail entrance.
(Note: South side of inlet bridge is in Indian River County, not
Brevard County.)
For information: Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area,
9700 Hwy Al A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951, phone (321) 984-4852.
(camping available)
Turkey
Creek Sanctuary
To get to this park, go south on US1 from SR192 about four miles
and turn right (west) onto Port Malabar Blvd (this is not the
same as Malabar Rd); drive 1.6 miles to the sanctuary entrance
located in the southeast comer of Palm Bay Community Center area.
From I-95 take exit 70A and go east on Palm Bay Rd, turn right at
Babcock St (CR507) and proceed south; turn left on Port Malabar
Blvd and continue east one mile to the Palm Bay Community Center,
then turn right into the sanctuary.
Turkey Creek (a Florida Audubon Society-owned sanctuary) is probably
best known for migratory warblers. At least 20 different warblers
have been seen here in migration including Prothonotary,
Blackbumian, Golden-winged, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Wormeating,
Prairie, Cerulean, and Yellow-throated Warblers, also waterthrushes
and Ovenbirds. Turkey Creek has many different habitats including
sand pine scrub, mesic hammock hydric hammock, palmetto scrub and
some open grassy areas.
Part of the area is viewed only from a boardwalk, but some of the
most productive birding is along the jogging trails check out both.
Turkey Creek is a blackwater creek, and the hydric hammock surrounding
it supports such bird species as Carolina Wrens, Redstarts, Ospreys,
owls, hawks, egrets, anhingas, , herons and cormorants; White Pelicans
winter here. Other species include quail, Eastern (rufous-sided)
Towhee, Mockingbirds, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Blue Grosbeaks, Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks, woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Indigo and Painted
Buntings, Red-eyed, Solitary and Yellow-throated Vireos, Yellow-billed
Cuckoos and Northern Orioles. As you pass the deeper area of the
creek, look for large swirls of water which indicate the presence
of manatees. These gentle creatures can be seen munching water plants
along the creek banks. This is also the best area for waterthrushes.
Park hours: 7:00 a.m. to sunset daily.
For information: Palm Bay Parks and Recreation Dept, 1502
Port Malabar Blvd, Palm Bay, FL 32905, phone (321) 952-3433.
St.
Sebastian River Buffer Preserve
To get to SSRBP, travel south (from Palm Bay) on I-95 to exit 70.
Drive east about 1/4 mile; at traffic light turn right on Babcock
St (CR507). Go south for about 11 miles and look to your left for
SSRBP. The preserve entrance road is along the north side of the
C-54 canal. If you cross the C-54 bridge, you’ve gone too
far.
The SSRBP consists of well maintained long leaf pine flatwoods
with a low understory of saw palmettos and grasses. A hardwood swamp
traverses the property from west to east and enters into a blackwater
creek. Bachman’s Sparrows are abundant and can be heard singing
from February to July. Brown-headed Nuthatches, Eastern Bluebirds,
Swallow-tailed Kites, Wild Turkeys and quail are common. Florida
Scrub Jay may be seen on Scrub Jay Road. There are several colonies
of red-cocked Woodpeckers. There is a hiking trail and four horse
trails that birders may hike.
Hours: 8:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. The preserve gate is locked
promptly at closing.
For information Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
P.O. Box 350 Fellsmere, FL 32948, phone (321) 953-5004, fax
(321) 953-5006.
T.M.
Goodwin Marsh
The T.M. Goodwin Marsh is located on the St. Johns River Marsh
in the southwest comer of Brevard County. Follow the directions
for SSRBP above, but do cross over C-54 and the Fellesmere canals;
turn right and go west along the canal for about six miles (this
road is in Indian River County). From the parking area, walk north
across the water control structure to access the preserve (you’re
back in Brevard County). Goodwin is a series of water impoundments
regulated for waterfowl. In the winter there are numerous wading
birds, several species of ducks as well as numerous Coots, Moorhens,
American Bitterns and rails. A bird of special interest is the Limpkin.
Goodwin can be an excellent place for king rails.
The T.M. Goodwyn Marsh is a good spot for Black-bellied whistling
ducks particularly at dawn or dusk. They have nested here
in the past. Also, Whooping cranes have been seen with some
regularity. In the early fall, usually around September,
there can be hundreds of shorebirds when they begin to flood the
impoundments for waterfowl.
For information: T.M. Goodwin Marsh Waterfowl Management
Area Office, Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, phone
(321) 726-2862.
South
Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (aka, Viera Wetlands)
- South Central Regional
- Wastewater Treatment Facility
- Constructed Wetlands System
Interim rules and regulations, May 2002
- Please sign in at the plant office before entering the site.
- The wetland site is closed between sunset and sunrise.
- Please keep your vehicle on the improved roadway. Do not
pass. Please do not block the improved roadway.
- Vehicles and bicycles are allowed on the berm trail. Please
limit your speed to 15 mph.
- The berm trail may be closed to vehicles following heavy rains.
- Firearms, fireworks, fires and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
- Hunting, fishing, boating, swimming and wading are prohibited.
- Please don’t feed wildlife.
- Please stay off water control structures and pipes.
- Harassing the wildlife is prohibited.
- Please keep pets on a leash.
- Please don’t litter.
- The observation decks are closed when thunderstorms are in the
area and/or when thunder is heard. Please return to your vehicle
if you hear thunder.
- Tours of the treatment plant can be scheduled with the plant
supervisor.
Additional excellent birding sites include the area’s numerous
causeways, selected Brevard County parks and recreational sites,
and states roads 46, 50 and 192 along the St. Johns River.
Good luck, birders!
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