Planning a week in Sanibel this coming spring - when is an ideal time (as best as we can guess) ?
Thanks -
Sandy
Posted by Sandy Steinman on December 13, 2013 at 3:19 AM
You might try contacting the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society http://www.san-capaudubon.org/Home.html
and Ding Darling Wildlife Refugehttp://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/
Also try reposting your request on the Nature Photographers Southeast regional forum.
Sanibel is high on my list of places to visit as well.
Posted by Buck Ward on December 13, 2013 at 6:30 PM
I live near Sanibel. For birds, especially at Ding Darling, November through March is the season. The refuge is closed on Fridays. In addition to Sandy Steinman's links, The Ding Darling Society has information too. http://www.dingdarlingsociety.org/
Ding Darling NWR: Mornings and evenings are best for birds at Ding, especially at low tide, but the tides there can be a little unpredictable. there' no tide station there and it also is much affected by the wind. There is a $5 per car, per day entry fee. YOu can get an annual pass for $12.50 I think, If you plan to entry more than three days, or you can use a duck stamp, or you can buy a lifetime 'senior pass' if you are over 62 that will let you into national parks and recreational lands. The Bailey Tract hasn't been very rewarding lately, but the black necked stilts nest there in April.
Other places nearby: Venice Rookery is good for nesting anhingas, great blues, and great egrets, usually December through February. Corkscrew swamp sanctuary is almost always good, best in the spring - The largest wood stork rookery. Estero lagoon, at the south end of Fort Myers Beach, is very good for birds, winter and spring. Access can be difficult but the birds are habituated to humans and you can get right in the water with them. All the beaches are good for shorebirds.
If you have any specific questions, email me - I'll try to answer.
Discussion
3 repliesThanks -
Sandy
and Ding Darling Wildlife Refugehttp://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/
Also try reposting your request on the Nature Photographers Southeast regional forum.
Sanibel is high on my list of places to visit as well.
Ding Darling NWR: Mornings and evenings are best for birds at Ding, especially at low tide, but the tides there can be a little unpredictable. there' no tide station there and it also is much affected by the wind. There is a $5 per car, per day entry fee. YOu can get an annual pass for $12.50 I think, If you plan to entry more than three days, or you can use a duck stamp, or you can buy a lifetime 'senior pass' if you are over 62 that will let you into national parks and recreational lands. The Bailey Tract hasn't been very rewarding lately, but the black necked stilts nest there in April.
Other places nearby: Venice Rookery is good for nesting anhingas, great blues, and great egrets, usually December through February. Corkscrew swamp sanctuary is almost always good, best in the spring - The largest wood stork rookery. Estero lagoon, at the south end of Fort Myers Beach, is very good for birds, winter and spring. Access can be difficult but the birds are habituated to humans and you can get right in the water with them. All the beaches are good for shorebirds.
If you have any specific questions, email me - I'll try to answer.