Birding & Wildlife Viewing
Experiencing nature – face to face
Having one of the most diverse ecosystems in the western hemisphere, makes Florida’s Space Coast a national natural treasure. What makes the area the favorite of many nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers is the great number of carefully designed and maintained observation points in the county.
There are places visitors can go to watch manatees roll around in the water, kayak tours to view nighttime bioluminescence activity, and sanctuaries where “birders” can climb towers and marvel at the great diversity of species. The naturally significant areas of the Space Coast are home to the largest collection of endangered wildlife and plants in the continental United States. Another animal that calls the Space Coast home is the American Alligator. The best way to see these prehistoric creatures is on an airboat tour of the St. Johns River or the Indian River Lagoon.
Birdwatching
The Space Coast is an ideal location that avid birdwatchers flock to year round. The Space Coast is where the sub-tropics meet the temperate zones, making it a bird haven. More than 300 species of birds can be seen here including the Painted Bunting, North America’s most beautiful bird, North America’s most endangered woodpecker, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and one of the largest populations of Florida’s only endemic bird species, the Florida Scrub Jay. Several of the parks in the northern part of our county, including two national parks, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore, are part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. To help explore the trail, visitors can attend the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival – a 6-day annual event of educational field trips, classes and workshops that promote the conservation of nature.