Birding

With seven sections of the Great Florida Birding Trail within the County, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a birder's paradise.

What is birding?
Bird watching, or birding, is the recreational hobby of observing different species of wild birds, including their physical characteristics and behavior. It is a hobby that can be enjoyed by both novice and experienced birders on many levels, from watching birds outside the window to traveling to the other side of the world to see a rare species. Birding is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and form a deep appreciation of nature.

Seasoned bird watchers can add rare sightings, such as red-cockaded woodpeckers or Bachman's sparrows, to their life lists. Newcomers to the pastime can get their wings, so to speak, during an Audubon Society guided tour or a visit to one of the area's state parks.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides a great tracker that shows recent sightings by watchers using the eBird system.

Prothonotary Warbler
Photography by Kevin Edwards

Reddish Egret

Burrowing Owl

Things to Do

About the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast

Florida's premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, The Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, is known for its pristine, unspoiled beauty. The area has hosted seven major feature films, been featured on SAIL magazine's list of the "10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States," ranked by Golf Digest as the "Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America," and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live in the South." For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau, 1700 Tamiami Trail, Suite G-2, Port Charlotte, FL; call 941-743-1900 for a free Visitor's Guide; or visit the Web site at PureFlorida.com.