The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a collection of 489 sites throughout Florida selected for their excellent birdwatching or bird education opportunities. This 2,000-mile, self-guided highway trail is designed to conserve and enhance Florida's bird habitat by promoting birdwatching activities, conservation education and economic opportunity.
St. Pete/Clearwater, a favorite spot for birders, offers 15 sites along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. These parks and preserves include mangrove swamps, slash-pine forests, unspoiled beaches and a vital estuary in Tampa Bay where you can see an amazingly diverse range of species and habitats.
Birds You’ll Spot in St. Pete/Clearwater
Keep an eye out for these special birds during your visit to St. Pete/Clearwater.
Great Blue Heron:
Known for its sometimes cranky demeanor, the great blue heron is a common sight along the waterways of St. Pete/Clearwater. These impressive birds can reach heights of 46 inches and have a wingspan of more than six feet.
Snowy Egret:
This small white heron is often confused with other members of the same family. Just remember, the snowy egret has a black bill and yellow feet. Its cousin, the great egret, has a yellow bill and black feet.
Brown Pelican:
Unlike its cousin the white pelican, brown pelicans feed on schooling fish by making spectacular dives from high altitudes. The brown pelican, once dwindling in numbers, has made a strong comeback thanks to strict conservation efforts.
Pileated Woodpecker:
These birds love to roost or nest in the trunks of old pine trees. This bird is a common sight in woodland areas such as Brooker Creek Preserve.
Trail Sites in St. Pete/Clearwater
Brooker Creek Preserve, Tarpon Springs
The habitats in the Brooker Creek Preserve encompass a variety of fresh water, marshland and forest. Birding is typically done by foot along the preserve’s scenic trails. Guided tours are available on Saturdays, and specialty hikes, including ones focused on migratory birds, take place throughout the year.
John Chesnut Sr. Park, Oldsmar:
The John Chesnut Sr. Park is located along the shores of Lake Tarpon and offers opportunities for birding by foot and boat along self-guided paddling and hiking trails. Regular residents include various waterfowl, hawks and vultures.
Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin
A barrier island, Honeymoon Island State Park is home to pristine Gulf beaches, mangrove swamps, tidal flats and a rare virgin slash pine forest. Whether exploring by paddle or foot, keep an eye out for osprey nests and a wide variety of shorebirds.
Caladesi Island State Park
Take the ferry to Caladesi Island State Park from neighboring Honeymoon Island, and spend a day (or days) exploring the mangrove swamps, pines, hardwoods, mudflats and beaches. The flora and fauna are similar to what you’ll find at Honeymoon Island, but the remote feel of the island sets it apart.
Hammock Park, Dunedin
The habitat of scrub forest, hardwoods and salt marsh in Hammock Park plays host to a remarkable variety of permanent and migratory birds. The self-guided walking tour is a great way to explore the beautiful grounds.
SR 60 Memorial Causeway Rest Stops
These surprising natural respites can be found in Tampa and Clearwater along the Courtney Campbell Causeway, from both eastbound and westbound directions. With their convenience to major roadways, these mudflats and mangrove swamps make excellent spots for beginners or for birding from your car.
Moccasin Lake Nature Park, Clearwater
Explore this 51-acre nature preserve with trails and boardwalks under a canopy of mature oaks and across ponds and creeks to find an array of birds including egrets, herons, ospreys and song birds. Moccasin Lake Nature Park is also home to several injured birds of prey and other wildlife exhibits featuring non-venomous reptiles and amphibians.
Shell Key Preserve, St. Pete Beach
Shell Key, part of an 1,800-acre preserve protecting sensitive marine habitats, is one of the area’s largest undeveloped barrier islands. This is one of Florida’s most important areas for shorebird nesting and migration, and beginners and experts alike will be amazed by the variety of species here.
Sand Key Park, Clearwater
This beach park is a favorite for its beautiful beaches and convenient amenities. Shorebirds are common in Sand Key Park and amenities include viewing benches that overlook a vast salt marsh. You might spy heron, roseate spoonbill, great horned owl, anhinga and common moorhen.
John R. Bonner Nature Park, Largo
This hidden gem offers the chance to see a number of migratory shorebirds in a convenient, natural setting. Wander the grounds of John R. Bonner Nature Park by foot and see what species you can find among the mangrove swamps, scrub and hardwood forests, bayfront shore, salt marsh and mudflats.
Boca Ciega Millennium Park, Seminole
Uncover shorebirds, waterfowl, wading birds, birds of prey and a myriad of upland birds in Boca Ciega Millenium Park’s seven diverse habitats, including pine flatwoods, coastal oak hammock, mangrove swamp, salt marsh, bay head and wetlands. The 35-foot observation tower provides spectacular views of Boca Ciega Bay.
Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde
With pristine beaches, boat launches and trails for biking, hiking and paddling, Fort De Soto Park has no shortage of ways to take in its amazing coastal habitats. More than 290 species of birds have been documented by ornithologists here.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Petersburg
Featuring a variety of freshwater habitats such as swamps and lakes, as well as diverse woodlands, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is home to a number of species. Explore by foot, boat or bicycle, but don’t forget to stop by the birds of prey aviary.
Clam Bayou Nature Preserve, Gulfport
Stop by in the morning to hike or paddle through the mangrove swamps, scrubland and the waters of Clam Bayou Estuary. Observation decks and docks provide excellent spots for taking in the estuary and surrounding habitats.
Sawgrass Lake Park, St. Petersburg
At 400 acres, Sawgrass Lake Park is one of the largest maple swamps on Florida’s Gulf coast. The mile-long boardwalk and half-mile nature trail provide ample opportunities to discover different species including herons, egrets, ibis and wood storks.
Weedon Island Preserve, St. Petersburg
This 3,700-acre preserve protects aquatic and upland ecosystems on the shores of Old Tampa Bay. Both the self-guided paddling trail and the interpretive boardwalk at Weedon Island Preserve offer excellent ways to explore. The onsite Cultural and Natural History Center has exhibits to help acquaint you with the area, and also offers organized tours and hikes.
Beaches Are For Birds
The St. Pete/Clearwater area is one of the few spots in southwestern Florida where beach-nesting birds can nest. Each year, during the summer months, groups of terns, plovers, skimmers, sandpipers and other shore birds lay their small, well-camouflaged eggs, hatch and raise the chicks in little, hard-to-see nests on the beach.
For weeks, one adult will stay on a nest while the other flies off to search for food. The birds are highly protective of their young and will quickly take flight to distract or fend off predators, if they feel threatened.
Protect the Birds
Take care to keep your distance from nesting birds. If the birds seem agitated, you are too close. And, please remember to be aware and stay clear of marked nesting areas.
If you're a bird lover and can spare a few hours while visiting our beautiful beaches, we could use your help in protecting the nests and newly born chicks. The St. Petersburg Audubon Society is seeking volunteers to guide beach-goers (the human kind) safely around nesting bird colonies, especially on busy summer holiday weekends.
No experience is necessary. Audubon even tells you what to say to beach visitors about steering clear of nesting areas. You will be accompanied by experienced bird stewards whose birding knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing it will leave you with a rich appreciation for our vulnerable feathered beach buddies.
Weekend volunteers are needed for Egmont Key State Park, Indian Shores, Fort De Soto Park, and Three Rooker Bar.
