Quick Details
Would you like to learn to go birding but aren’t sure where to start? Join us in the Big Cypress Institute and learn to identify the many species that comprise the white wading birds of Big Cypress!
Some birds you may see include the Great White Heron, a white morph of the Great Blue Heron that is only found in southern Florida. Big Cypress is also home to many songbirds that are often missed. We’ll teach you to listen for and spot these tiny, fast-moving and often brightly-colored birds like the Painted Bunting and the Eastern Bluebird.
Looking up, Big Cypress is home to Ospreys, Red-shouldered Hawks, Short-tailed Hawks, and Swallow-tailed Kites in the summer. Florida specialties like the Limpkin are found here too. You’ll learn to start with habitat when seeking and identifying birds, and hopefully, you’ll become an advocate for their preservation!
The class will be held at the BCI campus, 25959 Turner River Road, Ochopee, FL 34141. An institute guide or NPS ranger will conduct the class at the campus and provide orientation as to where to begin your search for birds in the Big Cypress.
Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat, and bring sunscreen and insect repellent. Also, bring binoculars or rent one of ours ($5) and bring your camera.