Rookery Bay NERR – A Sanctuary for Birds

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) encompasses 110,000 acres of coastal lands and waters near Naples on Florida’s southwest coast. An amazing world exists within the pristine mangrove-fringed waterways adjacent to one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country.

Managed by DEP’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Reserve protects the most pristine sub-tropical habitats in the country. Bird watching is excellent year round, however winter supports the most numerous and diverse species. Loons, ducks, hawks, shorebirds, swallows, thrushes, warblers and orioles are among the wintering groups. Of the more than 250 bird species found in Collier County, about 40 percent are winter visitors.

Up to 7,000 shorebirds, the most populous group, represent more than 20 species including willet, sanderling, marbled godwit, red knot and five species of plover. When low tide exposes the mudflats, polychaete worms, insect larvae, tiny snails and shrimp, invertebrate eggs and small clams serve as the proverbial dinner bell.

Further inland, leafy mangrove tree canopies provide important habitat for a variety of coastal birds. Bald eagles and ospreys are familiar sights as they soar above while white ibises and roseate spoonbills feed in the shallows.

Within the NERR are two major bird rookeries, ABC Islands and Rookery Bay. Isolated from the mainland, they are designated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as Critical Wildlife Areas for nesting.

Many of the birds nesting in the rookeries are listed as Species of Special Concern including the brown pelican, little blue heron and snowy egret. The ABC Islands rookery hosts nearly 1,000 pairs of nesting birds each season and has been ranked among the top 100 wading bird nesting colonies in the state. During the winter months more than 10,000 winged visitors find refuge in the rookeries.

Great horned owls, red-shouldered hawks and Eastern towhees can be spotted amongst the coastal scrub and pine flatwood habitats year round as blue-winged teal and American widgeons make their appearances at freshwater lakes in the winter.

Bird watching is one of the nation’s favorite pastimes and the Rookery Bay NERR offers numerous opportunities for people to enjoy and expand their knowledge of birds and their habitat.

Rookery Bay NERR also offers the public an outstanding 16,500 square foot Environmental Learning Center that includes four research laboratories, a 140-seat auditorium, classrooms, interactive exhibits, a 2,300 gallon aquarium, nature store and art gallery to provide a well-rounded understanding of the local ecosystem.

(Note: Excerpted from Florida Monthly Magazine by Renee Wilson, Research Translator, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve)