Our first guided bird walk with the Venice Area Audubon Society was such a treat. We met at Celery Fields in Sarasota, just off Fruitville Road on Palmer Boulevard.
When you arrive, on the left-hand side of the road is the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center. There is a small butterfly garden and a pavilion with picnic tables. From here, we crossed the road and walked out into the wetlands on a long, raised boardwalk.
There were naturalists on duty, ready to point out all the different varieties of birds in the air and in the water. They are equipped with a specialized scope for viewing the birds. I was able to see a purple gallinule through the scope. Amazing! The colors were spectacular!
While some folks chose to drive their cars to the next viewing area, my hubby and I walked. As we headed there, we spotted a little blue heron, a tri-colored heron, an osprey, and a bald eagle. At the second viewing area, we glimpsed two harrier hawks gliding through the air.
Instead of returning the way we came, we did a longer hike along a raised berm with wetlands on both sides. We saw a couple of sandhill cranes (pictured above) as well as wood storks, great egrets, mallard ducks, and a great blue heron.
If you love birds, Celery Fields is not to be missed!
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