Just south of Miami, the Florida Keys trail away to the southwest, ending at Key West. The overseas highway – a section of US1 – begins at Key Largo and runs for 180 km (114 miles) over 42 bridges and causeways to Key West.

The Dry Tortugas, considered the highlight of any birding trip to south Florida, are about 110 km (70 miles) west of Key West. Geologically, the Keys consist of a shallow layer of sand over small patches of ancient coral reef; most of the islands rise only a few meters above the ocean. All fresh water must be piped in or collected from rainfall.  The Dry Tortugas National Park relies on fresh water solely from a rain catchment system and a small desalinization plant.

Coral reefs extend along the east side of the Keys, from Biscayne National Park, through John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park and out to the Dry Tortugas.

Winter is the peak tourist season in the Keys and the parks and reefs are usually very crowded. The area is slightly less crowded in early fall and late spring.

Before starting out for Key West, birders should call the Rare Bird Alert hotline for the Lower Keys (305) 294-3438.

• Bahia Honda State Park
  Bahia Honda has been ranked as one of the best beaches in the US and most visitors come to swim, fish, and snorkel, attracted to the tropical beach and clear blue-green water.
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• Biscayne National Park
  Ninety-five percent of this park is underwater and most visitors to this park come by private boat, but the Park Service offers canoe rentals, snorkeling and scuba diving trips.
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• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
  Forests of living coral, sponges, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, turtles and nearly 600 species of fish are found here. Just as with Biscayne National Park, this largely underwater Park is best seen by boat.
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• Florida Keys Wild Bird Center
  Not the traditional stop, but highly recommended, this Wild Bird Center is a rehabilitation operation, run on a shoestring budget.
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• Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Area

If you would like to experience pristine tropical hardwood hammock- the forest that was once common on most of the upper Keys, visit Lignumvitae Key.
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• National Key Deer Refuge

Located on Big Pine Key, the National Key Deer Refuge was created to protect the miniature White-tailed Deer found only in the Keys. Today, cars are the deer’s major ‘predator;’ about 15% of the population are killed by cars each year.
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• Dry Tortugas National Park

Most people don’t realize that the Keys don’t end at Key West. Almost 110 km (70 miles) farther out in the Gulf of Mexico lies a small cluster of islands known as the Dry Tortugas, one of North America’s smallest, most remote, and least visited national parks.
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• Key Deer
• White-crowned Pigeon
• Monk Parakeet
• White Great Blue Heron
• Eastern Brown Pelican
• Osprey
• Bald Eagle
• Black Necked Stilt
• Royal Tern
• Least Tern
• Magnificent Frigatebird
• Pilot Whale
• Green Sea Turtle
• Hawksbill Sea Turtle

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• Beaches
• Camping
• Canoeing & Kayaking
• Fishing
• Photography
• Scuba Diving
• Snorkeling

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notes and suggestions

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