Today we did some Pelagic (open sea) birding on our way to the Dry Tortugas NP, it is approximately 68 miles from Key West by boat and takes about 3 hours. The name “Las Tortugas” came from the Explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513. In Spanish it means “the turtles” which impressed him so much in abundance and variety. The word ‘Dry’ was added later to warn visitors that fresh water was scarce. We saw many Magnificent Frigate birds, Laughing Gulls and Brown Pelican with a beautiful view of a Brown Noddy in flight just before we docked.Fort Jefferson is located on Garden Key and is a magnificent piece of history. It was built to protect the ports of the Gulf of Mexico region but had to be abandoned due to the lack of fresh drinking water.
It was a perfect day for birding with a nice sea breeze and slightly overcast. Sources of fresh water, such as the fountain inside the fort, were great for seeing small birds that were drinking there. It was also a good spot to see a Merlin and Northern Harrier who were feeding on those small birds…the circle of life.
Here are the highlights for the day: Peregrine Falcon, Sandwich Tern, Brown Booby, Northern Parula, Ovenbird and Whimbrel.
After getting a great look at the fort and the birds on the island I went into the water. The sea is aqua blue and reefs abound with fish and coral just off the beaches. If you make it down this way I highly recommend spending a day at this magnificent place.
I will be putting a complete list of the Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival sightings here, when compiled, so check back!
Happy Adventures! Dee
1 comment:
The dry tortugas national park are a tropical and more isolated travel destination. Its quiet tourism keeps the islands a desired place of escape. With an abundance of wildlife, beaches, places to explore, and history to visit, the Dry Tortugas are the perfect destination for a unforgettable vacation.
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