The real-life 'snowbirds'

This year more than 100,000 seasonal residents (“snowbirds”) are expected to migrate to Sarasota County during the winter months — but they won’t be alone.

Florida’s moderate winter climate also attracts a wide range of wildlife that fill our skies, lakes, forests and seas with new species not typically seen during the warmer summer months.

According to the Sarasota Audubon Society, winter in Sarasota is the best time of the year for bird watching.

Migratory birds including flocks of ducks, warblers, wading birds and hawks move into the area from the North in search of warmer temperatures. Hawks visit the area during the winter, and other birds of prey, such as eagles, can be seen nesting and hunting, as well. Bald eagles move into the area from October through May and are frequently seen at Oscar Scherer State Park.

Other rare bird species, such as the avocet and caracara, appear in area forests and wetlands.
The area’s mammals are also more visible in the winter. Falling leaves and lower water levels in fresh water sources concentrate the animal populations, making them more visible. It is not uncommon in the winter months to see more deer, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, foxes, bobcats and even otters, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife experts.

Aquatic mammals, such as manatees, spend more time in the bay and move into bayous in search of warmth as offshore waters begin to cool.

Even the world’s most dangerous sea-going predators choose Southwest Florida for their winter vacation destination. According to wildlife experts from Mote Marine Laboratory and the NOAA’s Fisheries Service, great white sharks move into the Gulf of Mexico each year starting in January, when offshore temperatures drop to around 60 degrees. In March, two men fishing 30 miles off the coast of Tampa caught an 18-foot, 3,000-pound great white shark.

Experts assure us there is nothing to worry about — the apex predators, which can grow to 20 feet, typically stay about 20 miles offshore.

Large reptiles are also more visible in the winter. Species such as alligators, saltwater crocodiles and turtles sun themselves on the banks of area waterways, attempting to regulate their body temperatures in the cooler temperatures with more time in the sun. Wildlife experts caution residents to be on the lookout for more snakes sunning themselves on pavement during the winter.

More information about where to go to and what one can hope to see in Sarasota County’s wild spaces is available on the Visit Sarasota County website: visitsarasota.org.

WHERE TO GO
Crowley Museum and Nature Center
The Crowley Nature Center features 185 acres of rare and unique habitats, including a 2,000-foot boardwalk, which traverses Maple Branch Swamp and the Tatum Sawgrass Marsh.

Wildlife: Roseate spoonbills, hawks, eagles, wood storks, avocets, caracaras, alligators, turtles, snakes, deer, raccoons, foxes, bobcats and otters.

Address: 16405 Myakka Road, Sarasota

Hours: Open from 10 a.m. until sundown, Thursday through Sunday

Myakka River State Park
One of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks, the Myakka River flows through 57 square miles of wetlands, prairies and woodlands. Myakka is popular for hiking, fishing, camping and wildlife observation.

Wildlife: Roseate spoonbills, hawks, eagles, wood storks, avocets, caracaras, alligators, turtles, snakes, deer, raccoons, foxes, bobcats and otters.

Address: 13208 State Road 72,Sarasota

Hours: Open from 8 a.m. until sunset every day

Oscar Scherer State Park
The park offers 15 miles of trails; these natural areas provide opportunities for hiking, bicycling and wildlife viewing.

Wildlife: Bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, hawks, wood storks, avocets, caracaras, alligators, turtles, snakes, deer, raccoons, foxes, bobcats and otters.

Address: 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey

Hours: Open from 8 a.m. until sundown every day

Ted Sperling Park
This is a gateway to four significant bodies of water: the Gulf of Mexico, Big Pass, Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou. Here you’ll find beaches, birding opportunities and a paddling trail through a diverse ecosystem.

Wildlife: Manatees, bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, roseate spoonbills, great blue herons, great egrets and hermit crabs.

Address: 2201 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Lido Key

Hours: Open from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m., 365 days a year

Contact Nolan Peterson at [email protected]