| Miami has a variety of attractions for tourists that | | | | Shark Valley, and Gulf Coast (south of Everglades |
| revolve around animal and bird life. These include the | | | | City). |
| Miami Seaquarium, Parrot Jungle Island, Monkey Jungle | | | | It is however in the area of wildlife watching that the |
| and Miami Zoo. However even more attractive are | | | | Everglades National Park truly astounds. Over 300 |
| the truly wild animals and birds that can be seen in | | | | species of birds have been recorded, seven of which |
| South Florida. The Intracoastal waterway and other | | | | are rare or endangered. Migrating birds use Everglades |
| canals along the highways and roads plus numerous | | | | National Park both as critical wintering areas and as a |
| lakes in residential areas and along the highway attract | | | | stopover. Species include the Cape May warbler, |
| birdlife particularly water fowl. For the best experience, | | | | peregrine falcon, bobolinks, and tree swallows. Wading |
| South Florida, in the areas around Miami, has numerous | | | | birds you may encounter on a visit include the great |
| parks where the truly wild can be seen. | | | | white heron, great blue heron, great egret, snowy |
| In the Palm Beach area there is Grassy Waters | | | | egret, tri-colored heron, little blue heron, cattle egret, |
| Preserve, Marinelife of June Beach, Hungryland | | | | reddish egret, black-crowned night heron, |
| Boardwalk And Trail, John D. Macarthur Beach State | | | | yellow-crowned night heron, least bittern, glossy ibis, |
| Park, Okeeheelee Park Nature Center. In the Boca | | | | and the very colorful roseate spoonbill. Some birds of |
| Raton Area there is Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and | | | | prey of the Everglades include the red-shouldered |
| Fern Forest Nature Center. | | | | hawk and the barred owl. Along the mangrove island |
| In Hollywood there is Anne Kolb Nature Center at | | | | areas of Everglades National Park, you are likely to |
| West Lake Park. Broward County has Tree Tops | | | | see an osprey dive into the water to catch a fish. |
| Park, while Greynolds Park is located on Miami Beach. | | | | About fifty pair of bald eagles, who also feed on fish, |
| Two of the parks that are easily accessible for those | | | | nest in the park. One of the most threatened birds in |
| in the south Miami area are Biscayne National Park | | | | the park, is the Everglades or snail kite. |
| and Everglades National Park. | | | | Anhinga Trail over Taylor Slough at Royal Palm is a |
| Biscayne National Park is located at 9700 SW 328th | | | | good place to watch anhingas nest in the spring, as |
| St., Homestead. Ninety-five percent of this marine park | | | | well as year-round viewing of herons, egrets, |
| is underwater and features colorful coral reefs and | | | | double-crested cormorants and white ibis. Eco Pond |
| undeveloped keys in Biscayne Bay. Most of the keys | | | | near Flamingo is a good place to observe herons, |
| are covered by mangroves and tropical hardwood | | | | white ibis, roseate spoonbills, white-eyed vireos, |
| hammocks. The park has a walkway along the | | | | red-shouldered hawks and numerous species of |
| seafront that is fringed with mangrove. It is a good | | | | butterflies. From the Flamingo Visitor Center, you can |
| location for seeing various species that associate with | | | | see white pelicans, gulls, terns, shorebirds, white herons, |
| water, including ring-billed gulls, double crested | | | | reddish egrets and other birds along the fringe of the |
| cormorants, ruddy turnstones, woodpeckers and | | | | bay. |
| grackles. Fishing is allowed at designated areas in the | | | | Over forty species of mammals are found in |
| park plus kayak and canoe rentals are available. The | | | | Everglades National Park. It is not uncommon to see |
| park is open from 7am to 5.30pm daily and entry to | | | | white-tailed deer wading through the sawgrass prairie. |
| the park is free of charge. | | | | The marsh rabbit is common in higher fresh water |
| Close to Biscayne Park is the Biscayne Boat Dock, | | | | marshes, pinelands, and coastal prairies. Raccoons and |
| which has a $5 entry fee. At the boat dock there is a | | | | opossums are common creatures throughout the park. |
| small beach for swimming with lifeguards, rest rooms | | | | The gray fox is most frequently seen near hardwood |
| and a snack bar. For a more active afternoon or | | | | hammocks. River otters are commonly observed in |
| morning, saltwater fishing is allowed among the | | | | the spring at the Anhinga Trail and Shark Valley. The |
| mangroves and along the walkway. For the | | | | Florida Panther which is a subspecies of mountain lion |
| birdwatcher, sapsuckers, ospreys, grebes and | | | | is found in the park but elusive so rarely seen. The |
| cormorants can be seen. | | | | bobcat, unlike the endangered Florida panther, is |
| To get to Biscayne National Park take Florida's | | | | common in Everglades National Park. Although primarily |
| Turnpike south to Exit 6 (Speedway Boulevard), turning | | | | nocturnal, this small (15 - 25 lb.) short-tailed feline is |
| left from the exit ramp and continuing south to | | | | frequently seen during daylight hours. It may be seen |
| Southwest 328th Street (North Canal Drive). Turn left | | | | walking the Bear Lake Trail, the Snake Bight Trail, and |
| and continue to the end of the road. The entrance is | | | | the Main Park Road. |
| about approximately five miles on the left. | | | | The West Indian manatee is a marine mammal that |
| Everglades National Park covers over 1.4 million acres | | | | grows to 1,000 pounds and roams U.S. coastal waters |
| with a diverse habitat ranging from the marine and | | | | from Louisiana to Virginia. In winter months they seek |
| estuarine areas of Florida Bay to pinelands, hardwood | | | | the warm waters of Florida Bay, where they are often |
| hammocks, and vast sawgrass marshes and | | | | seen by visitors. They can be frequently seen in |
| freshwater sloughs. The park offers the opportunity | | | | Whitewater Bay, Hells Bay and along the west coast. |
| for a wide range of activities including; beach combing, | | | | Alligators are common throughout the fresh water |
| birding, camping, diving, fishing, hiking, photography, | | | | marshes of the park, and occasionally enter the |
| ranger led activities, snorkeling, swimming and wildlife | | | | brackish waters of Florida Bay. The best time to see |
| watching. | | | | alligators in the park is during the winter dry season. At |
| There are three campgrounds inside the park; Long | | | | that time, they get together near the deeper water |
| Pine Key, Flamingo, and Chekika and all campgrounds | | | | holes. All sizes and ages, from ten-inch babies to an |
| are open year round. Canoes may be rented at | | | | occasional twenty-year-old, ten-foot-long adult, can be |
| Flamingo and Gulf Coast. Bicycling is permitted along | | | | seen lounging on the bank along the Anhinga Trail. |
| the main park roads, on the Shark Valley tram road, on | | | | To get to Everglades National Park take Florida's |
| the Old Ingraham Highway, on Long Pine Key Nature | | | | Turnpike south to its end in Florida City. Turn right on |
| Trail, and on the Snake Bight and Rowdy Bend trails at | | | | Southwest 344th Street (Palm Drive), follow signs on |
| Flamingo. Visitor centers are located at the main | | | | Florida Highway 9336 to Everglades National Park. |
| entrance (west of Homestead), Royal Palm, Flamingo, | | | | |