Bountiful Birding at Palm Beach County Natural Areas

Nesting osprey at Jupiter Ridge Natural Area

Nesting osprey at Jupiter Ridge Natural Area

The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, stretches 2,000 miles from Key West to Gulf Islands National Seashore. The trail includes nearly 500 sites throughout Florida selected for their excellent bird watching, wildlife viewing or educational opportunities. This self-guided highway trail is designed to help preserve and enhance Florida’s wildlife habitats by promoting birding and wildlife viewing activities and conservation education. Seven natural areas managed by the Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) are designated stops along the trail.

North County
Jupiter Ridge: This 270-acre natural area is home to the endangered Florida scrub-jay. Listen for a loud, harsh “shreep” as you walk the trails. It indicates a scrub-jay is in the area. Keep an eye out for nesting ospreys along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Juno Dunes: Explore a variety of habitats, including beach and dune, pine flatwoods and depression marsh. In the spring listen for male towhees as they patrol their territories and search for mates. In the winter watch black vultures and turkey
vultures soar effortlessly over the natural area.

Frenchman’s Forest: The hardwood hammock forest attracts many species of warblers during the spring and fall migrations. Herons can be found among the mangroves. Other birds observed include great horned owl, pileated woodpecker, and gray catbird.

Sweetbay: Located adjacent to the North County Airport, the wetlands attract many wading birds, including snowy egret, black-crowned night heron, and the endangered wood stork. Visitors can also walk through a slash pine forest home to red-tailed hawks and red-bellied woodpeckers.

Central County
Royal Palm Beach Pines: Wetlands cover more than 40 percent of the site. During the rainy season, portions of the trails may be underwater. Bald eagle, red-shouldered hawk, and Florida sandhill crane are just some of the birds found here.

South County
Seacrest Scrub: This natural area preserves Florida scrub habitat - one of Florida’s most endangered natural communities. It is a green island of wilderness in the middle of suburban Boynton Beach. The American kestrel, one of Florida’s smaller birds of prey, has been recorded here.

Delray Oaks: The large live oak trees growing along the walking trail are great places to look for blue-gray gnatcatchers and northern cardinals. The observation platform at the end of the trail is another good place to search for songbirds. An occasional hawk or falcon can be seen atop the tall slash pines on the natural area perimeter.

Use this link to access instructions for downloading ERM’s natural areas mobile map.