Meet Florida Wildlife, Face to Face

Much of Florida's wildlife is unique, from its gentle, lumbering manatees to its comical and ubiquitous brown pelicans (every time they dive for fish, they look like they've never done it before and certainly won't catch anything – and then, after letting the seawater drain out, they gulp down their catch).

Observing the state's charming wildlife in the wild is wonderful, and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is filled with parks and preserves perfect for doing just that. But for an up-close look at Florida's fauna – whether land- or water-based – head to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and the Tarpon Springs Aquarium.

Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary

The 12-or-so-foot-tall pelican sculpture by Gary Rager at mile marker 13 on Gulf Boulevard is an unmistakable sign that you've found the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.

The sanctuary, founded in 1971 and one of America's largest wild bird rehabilitation centers, is an exquisite treat. Its small, unpaved parking lot does nothing to foreshadow the treasures that hide inside.

Meet Isis, a red-tailed hawk that is blind in one eye and cannot hunt because it has no depth perception. It has been at Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary since 1990 and was once used in educational demonstrations.

Peer into aviaries housing multiple varieties of pelicans, vultures and terns. See and read about the red-winged blackbird, the most prolific bird in North America. Stare into the haunting eyes of the great horned owl.

Or join giddy children like Justin Klages and his disposable camera at the aviary that houses burrowing owls.

"I wanted to get a picture up close, but he flew away so I got him flying," said Justin, who said he was 6 years old and weighed "almost as much as a bag of chicken feed."

He and his family were on vacation from Harvard, Ill.

"We have birds back home, but these are different birds, different animals. It's neat to know," said his mother, Kathy Klages. She made sure the trip to St. Petersburg/Clearwater included more intimate, behind-the-scenes stops such as this one.

"It's nice that they have something like this."

The sanctuary has so much to offer that the Klageses made two stops there in three days. Garrett, 11 "and a half" years old, was drawn to the warbler aviary, pointing out his favorite bluebird. Sister Katrina, 10, beamed as she came out of the gift shop in search of her father, Gary.

Many of the birds at Suncoast are permanent residents because they have been injured and cannot fend for themselves in the wild. Others are recovering and will be out in the skies, possibly joining the seven pelicans who provided a "flyover" on this day.

The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is open 365 days a year, and there is no charge for admission. It depends on the financial support of caring people, such as actress Dawn Wells. Her name appears on an aviary near the entrance: "Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) remembers with love and laughter Jim Backus, Mr. Howell of Gilligan's Island."

Konger Tarpon Springs Aquarium

Dodecanese Boulevard is difficult to negotiate in any kind of hurry, thanks to a unique atmosphere and the seductive odors emanating from the many places serving great Greek food.

But once you make it to the traffic circle down the way, you have arrived at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium. Go inside for an intimate encounter (including two touch tanks) with life from the waters in and around the area.

"Daddy, look – whoa!" My daughter was drawn to a tank with three of the larger alligators she had seen. We strolled up close to investigate their teeth, tail and feet, then were fascinated by seeing what we had only heard about: the gator's "third" eyelid.

Time and again, just before the 5-foot-long animal submerged, a nictitating membrane drew across its eye from front to back, offering transparent protection underwater.

We were so smitten by the gator that we didn't notice the massive alligator snapping turtle that had come over to visit us at the bottom of the tank, its tiny eyes, huge head and deeply unattractive appearance fixing the attention of children and adults.

The main tank at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium holds 30 species of fish including three species of sharks. It also holds one human four times a day. Christine, Todd or Scott gets in dive gear that includes Kevlar gloves and jumps in the water to distribute meals. The shark feedings, at 11:30 a.m. and 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., will command your attention.

Adjacent tanks hold a red serpent sea star, a panther grouper and a green moray eel. An entire room is devoted to a Touch Tank, where visitors can safely pet and feed stingrays and small sharks.

Many shark teeth are on display, including a few wider than an adult man's fist. Smaller teeth, from alligators and sharks, have become necklace pendants in the gift shop.

If you go:

The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is open every day from 9 a.m. to dusk. 727-391-6211 or www.seabirdsanctuary.com.

The Tarpon Springs Aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with extended hours at certain times of the year. 727-938-5378 or www.tarponspringsaquarium.com.