The marshes and open prairies along the western shore of Lake Okeechobee and our other waterways provide ample opportunities for birders to view a variety of native and migrating birds.
Bird species observed in Glades County include sandhill cranes, crested caracaras, Florida scrub-jays, several varieties of egrets and herons, burrowing owls, grasshopper sparrows, wild turkeys, and swallow-tailed kites. Wintering waterfowl, especially ducks, are common on our marshes. Visitors may also spot bobcats, river otters, gopher tortoises and box turtles while out on a birding expedition.
The dry prairies that surround Lake Okeechobee along the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail between Lakeport and Buckhead Ridge are part of the Caracara Cluster of the Great Florida Birding Trail, and are home to crested caracaras, Florida grasshopper sparrow, sandhill cranes and burrowing owls. From the Florida Trail atop of the Herbert Hoover Dike, you can see white pelicans, sandhill cranes, osprey, and bald eagles soaring overhead.
The wetlands on Curry Island at Vance Whidden Park are a great place for viewing skimmers, brown and white pelicans, cormorants, anhingas and loons, wood storks, woodpeckers and blue herons.
Near Fisheating Creek Campground, as many as 600 swallow-tail kites converge in late August in preparation for their winter migration to South America. Osprey and bald eagles, along with heron and egrets are also seen in the area. Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, accessible at the campground and also along Banana Grove Road at Lakeport.
At Silver Lake Preserve near Muse, quail and wild turkey are found in the pine woods. East of the Fisheating Creek floodplain, Platt Branch Wildlife and Environmental Area has a resident Florida scrub-jay population and is home to red-cockaded woodpeckers.
