Section V. Soutn Florida 

 and Grand Banama 



DRY TORTUGAS 



Wliile the islands 70 miles west of Key West, in the 

 Gulf of Mexico, known as the Dry Tortugas, are in general 

 inaccessible, it is possible that some bird watching enthusiasts 

 may find a way of reaching this area. The Tropical Audu- 

 bon Society of Miami makes a two-day excursion there 

 each May. Banding expeditions are carried out in May 

 and July by the P'lorida Audubon Society, the National 

 Park Service, and the Florida State Museum, cooperating, 

 but these trips are limited to an invited group of ten to 

 fifteen bird banders, who stay on the islands from a week 

 to ten days each trip. Those with their own seaworthy 

 boats or who have friends travelling by boat in this section, 

 might have opportunity to visit the Dry Tortugas. No 

 accommodations are provided either for lodging or meals, 

 and all parties visiting there have to carry their own food, 

 water, and equipment, with them. 



Fort Jefferson is interesting historically. An account of 

 the Dry Tortugas, now the Fort Jefferson National Monu- 

 ment, under the administration of Everglades National Park, 

 may be secured from the Park Service in Homestead, 

 Florida. 



The islands arc the site of the only nesting colonies of 

 Sooty and Brown Noddy Terns in North America, and 

 the only extensive nesting colony of Roseate Terns between 

 Virginia and Texas. The colonies are active only from May 

 to September. Qn Garden Key, where the Fort is located, 

 and on the other Keys as well, numbers of migrating birds 

 pause briefly both spring and fall. There are other species 

 of interest, hundreds of Magnificent Frigatebirds are present 

 in summer, and occasionally Brown and Blue-faced Boobies 

 may be sighted. A complete roster of the birds, written by 

 Alexander Sprunt, Jr., was pubhshed in serial form in the 

 Florida Naturdist in 1962 and 1963. 



Margaret H. Hundley 



EVERGLADES NATIONAL 

 PARK 



Everglades National Park is one of America's most 

 fascinating birding areas. During the winter, large numbers 

 of wading birds, shore birds, ducks, gulls, and terns, are 

 present. Many land birds winter here, and large numbers 

 pass through in migration. Summer offers many of the West 

 Indian species typical of Soiitli Florida. Tlie park is reached 

 by driving south on U. S. 1 to Florida City, then west on 

 State 27 to the park. After entering the park, drive about 

 three miles, turn left at sign, and drive to Royal Palm 

 Ranger Station. From here walk to the end of the Anhinga 

 Trail. Watch for many wading birds, including White 

 Ibis, Wood Ibis, American Bittern (winter). Least Bittern, 

 and Limpkin. Anhingas are common. At the end of the 



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board walk look for the Purple Gallinule on the lily pads. 

 This is the best area in the park to see them. While at 

 Royal, watch overhead for the rare Short-tailed Hawk. 

 Gumbo Limbo Trail and all of the surrounding hammock 

 offer good land birding. Return to the main road and 

 continue toward Flamingo. 



A stop at Mahogany Hammock often produces such birds 

 as Pileated Woodpecker anl Barred Owl. When you reach 

 West Lake, if during winter, look for large numbers of 

 coots and ducks. From here to Flamingo in spring and 

 summer watch for Swallow-tailed Kites. Also, from West 

 Lake to Flamingo, watch for the Short-tailed Hawk. One 

 of the outstanding bird attractions in the park in late winter 

 and spring is Mrazek Pond, east of the road and just north 

 of Coot Bay pond. Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, 

 Pintail, and American Widgeon are often seen, along with 

 many species of herons, egrets, ibises, and Roseate Sptoonbills. 

 Just before crossing the bridge to Flamingo, turn left at the 

 road marked "Utility Area." Search the mudflats for shore 

 birds, including the Long-billed Curlew and Marbled God- 

 wit. Also, look for the White Pelican, Great White Heron, 

 Reddish Egret, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Wilson's Plover, 

 Caspian Tern, and Black Skimmer. 



W '%: 







? X 



SAMUEL A. GRIMES 

 The only breeding colony of Sooty Terns in North America 

 is in the Dry Tortugas. 



