There’s no doubt that Orlando’s theme parks are the prime reason for visiting this corner of the Sunshine State. Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and more provide magnificent entertainment, absolutely guaranteed, year after year, and there is always something new in their world.
But it’s also true that visitors need a break from all the fantasy and thrills, especially if they are here for two weeks or more. An unbroken diet of Mickey Mouse and Harry Potter can make for theme park indigestion! That is why we always stress the importance of the natural side of Orlando, where the state parks, gardens and nature preserves offer the laid-back, peaceful alternative to all the rides and shows.
There are plenty of them, too, and we served up 10 of our favourite ways to enjoy the Great Outdoors in an AttractionTickets.com blog back in August, when we highlighted the likes of Wekiva Island, the Paddling Center and lovely Leu Gardens, all of which are a relatively short drive from the theme parks. But there’s more to Central Florida’s nature trails and wildlife preserves when it comes to bird-watching, and especially in the winter months. Just to start with, did you know that the Lake Apopka North Shore preserve is home to more species than any inland location in the country, including the Everglades?
At the last count, that was around 377 different species, and many of them are not difficult to spot in this extensive area just a 30-minute drive north of Walt Disney World. It includes the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, which we have blogged about in the past as one of the very best ways to see alligators in the wild, as well as being a bird-watcher’s paradise. Well, as it turns out, there is more here than even we realised, and December is just about peak “twitching” time for Lake Apopka. On any given day for the next few weeks, visitors may see ospreys, anhingas, great blue herons, bald eagles, red-winged blackbirds, red-shouldered hawks, snowy egrets and a multitude of waterfowl among the dozens of species that make this their winter home.
Lake Apopka, in the north-west corner of Orange County 15 miles north-west of downtown Orlando, is the fourth-largest lake in the state and serves as the headwaters of the Ocklawaha chain of lakes, which is one of the biggest freshwater areas of Florida not called the Everglades. In the 1930s and 40s it attracted keen anglers worldwide for its magnificent bass fishing, only for the lakes to fall victim to heavy farming pollution from the 1940s to the 80s, turning the region into an environmental wasteland.
Happily, since the late 1980s, the local Water Management District and its partners have made incredible strides in improving the water quality and restoring various habitats, including the marshes and floodplain, creating flow systems that filter the lake’s water by circulating it through restored wetlands. And, as a result, the many wildlife populations have flocked back to their ancestral North Shore home.
Now, it has become a guaranteed birding Mecca, attracting birders, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, nature lovers and anyone passionate about enjoying the outdoor life. It has also given rise to various bird-watching events and celebrations, and the biggest is just about to take place.
The ninth annual North Shore Birding Festival is taking place from December 5-9, offering expert-led field trips to explore not only the North Shore but prime birding spots across central Florida, including the District’s Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area and Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park.
Deborah Green, president of the Orange Audubon Society and committee chair for the event, explained: “We’re celebrating our ninth year hosting this festival. We’re all volunteers and, while it’s a lot of work, it’s incredibly rewarding to offer people the chance to experience these amazing birding locations. The diversity of species here is unmatched and birders travel from all over to join us. Last year, we had people from 18 different states and 70 cities across Florida.”
Over the five-day Festival, field trips are offered from sunrise to sunset, with a variety of options, including car, foot, kayak and bicycle-based excursions. Some trips are specifically tailored to various interests, such as photography, bird identification by ear or young birders. There’s truly something for everyone.
Another exciting event, the Christmas Bird Count, will take place at the North Shore on December 19. This is the longest-running community science project in the world, offering a snapshot of bird populations across North America. The event was established in 1900 by pioneering ornithologist Frank Chapman, who encouraged people to count, rather than hunt, birds during the holiday season.
The count, conducted by volunteers and administered by the National Audubon Society, takes place from December 14 to January 5, with officials working in “count circles,” each with a 15-mile radius, to identify and tally bird species within assigned zones. Teams cover as much ground as possible within a 24-hour period, helping track winter bird populations and monitor long-term trends. Beyond its scientific value, it’s also a fun, festive event that brings birders together to celebrate the beauty of nature.
And, yes, we didn’t know about all this December activity until our local newspaper, The Apopka Voice, flagged it up for us this week. We live about 10 minutes from Lake Apopka, and it remains our great joy to take the lake’s Wildlife Drive every now and then, and it never fails to amaze with its variety and tranquility. The 11-mile Drive is free to all-comers every Friday-Sunday, from dawn to dusk, but you need to allow up to two hours to complete it, as there is a 10mph speed limit.
Want more birds? Check out the many stops along the Great Florida Birding Trail, which has more than 500 sites bursting with bird-watching opportunities, including the fabulous Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on the Space Coast and the unique Disney Wilderness Preserve south of Kissimmee.
Best of all, as you travel around this jewel in Florida’s crown, you are likely to see many of these magnificent birds along the highways, parks and other open spaces, and especially in the back gardens of the many villas and holiday homes in the Kissimmee area. Ibis, egrets, sandhill cranes, cardinals and the unusual anhingas – which locals know as “snake-birds” – are all part of the year-round natural scene. You just need to keep your eyes open.
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