Part II 



Gull Coast Area 



BRADENTON AREA 



Good birding in the Bradenton area (and there are 

 many more good bird spots than can be enumerated here) : 



Causeways to, and shores, of Anna Maria Island (High- 

 way 64 west), Terra Ceia Island (west of Highway 19), 

 Sunshine Skyway, Highway 19, and other causeways and 

 shores. Pelicans, gulls, terns, skimmers, oystercatchers, 

 Anhingas, and cormorants. Egrets, herons, ibises. Wood 

 Storks, peeps, plovers, and numerous other shore birds. 

 Ducks, coots, and gallinules in river and bays. Eagles, hawks, 

 owls, woodpeckers, and perching birds in land areas. 



Allen S. Hitch 



CLEARWATER AREA 



ALLIGATOR LAKE— On Bayshore Drive between 

 U. S. Route 60 and Safety Harbor. This fresh water lake 

 that is just across the road from Tampa Bay is ideal for 

 water birds both summer and winter. Besides the regular 

 shore birds, there are Anhingas, Least Bitterns, and galli- 

 nules nesting in the summer. In winter there are ducks. 

 Bald Eagles, Osprey, coots, rails, Tree Swallows and many 

 warblers. 



Route 60 (Courtney Campbell Causeway), Tampa to 

 Clearwater, is well worth visiting for shore birds of all 

 kinds. In winter. Horned Grebes and Common Loons may 

 be found here. 



RANCH AREA - ONE— East of Lake Tarpon along 

 East Lake "Road from Boot Ranch to north end. Follow 

 this road from the large "Boot," marking Boot Ranch on 

 S. R. 584, to its junction with S. R. 582. White Ibises, 

 Cattle Egrets, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks can 

 be seen regularly. Turkeys, Barred Owls, Pileated Wood- 

 peckers, Bluebirds and warblers may also be seen here, 

 as well as two eagle nests. 



RANCH AREA - TWO— S. R. 54 from Odessa, east 

 to U. S. 41, south to Lutz and west on Vernon Road to 

 Lake Fern. This contains ranch country where in winter 

 Wood Ibises, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Marsh Hawks, 

 Sandhill Cranes, bluebirds, pipits, and Chipping and other 

 sparrows may be found. Glossy Ibises have been seen here. 



Col. Frank M. Child 



FORT MYERS AREA 



Drive to far south end and eastern corner of Pine 

 Island (north and mostly west of Fort Myers) for Bald 

 Eagles and Ospreys and their nests. Just as you approach 

 St. James City, turn left on "8th Ave." and keep going 

 east and south to desolate tidewater area where eagle nests 

 (one very large one) can be seen bordering bay area. On 

 the way, in the Matlacha area, one can see a variety of 

 water birds, such as Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Green 



Heron, and Anhinga. Sometimes wheeling flocks of White 

 Pelicans can be seen over Pine Island. South and east of 

 Fort Myers, about 54 miles, is the famed Corkscrew Swamp 

 Sanctuary (north and east of Naples) where a variety of 

 species may be found. The Wood Storks (several thousands 

 of them) nest in the area. You can nearly always see 

 alligators here if they have eluded you elsewhere. You are 

 likely to see White Ibis, Limpkin, Pileated Woodpecker, 

 Barred Owl, and in the breeding season the Chuck-wiU's- 

 widow. Admission to the sanctuary, $1.00. It is owned 

 and operated by the National Audubon Society. 



The Southwest Florida Audubon Society has compiled 

 for local use by the Chamber of Commerce a list of 

 Regional Birds of Special Interest, and where they are 

 found. It is available on request. 



Bradford Patten (Southwest Florida Audubon Society) 



FORT MYERS BEACH AREA— November to April. 

 Shore birds and land birds. 



PUNTA RASSA - BUNCH BEACH— November to 

 April. Shore birds and long-legged waders. (This is on 

 Route 867.) 



PINE ISLAND - PINELAND - ST. JAMES CITY 

 —Ave. 8th. Route 78 from 41-767 south, 183 north. No- 

 vember to April. Shore birds, long-legged waders, eagles 

 and their nests, a few land birds. 



BURNT SHORE ROAD— From Route 78, Sandhill 

 Cranes. 



'_ SAMUEL A. GRIMES 



The Wilson's Plover quickly feigns injury when one approaches 

 the nest, which is only a depression in the earth. The eggs are 

 well camouflaged. 



