Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Tour Overview

Often thought of as one of the best places n the U.S. to see migrating birds Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (Black Refuge) was established in 1963 as an overlay of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. Audubon Society has this has a must see for their birding community. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of Florida's premier birding sites with more than 330 recorded species. World-renowned for its 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive (an auto tour loop), its shorebird and wading bird opportunities can't be beat. Fall and winter are best for these species, but even in summer, specialties such as Roseate Spoonbill aren't hard to find. Drive the Black Point route slowly, scanning the impoundments for rails, a diversity of ducks like Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler and Green-winged Teal, and a multitude of shorebirds loafing on the flats. Alligators are common in the impoundments; rare visitors include Snow Goose, Ross's Goose, Ruff, Eurasian Wigeon and Cinnamon Teal. Reddish Egrets occasionally "dance" in the shallows as they hunt for prey, and Northern Harriers flush shorebirds in winter, revealing those hidden birds at the back of the flock. Lucky viewers may spy a Bald Eagle stoop on a raft of American Coots and fly off with one in its razor-sharp talons. There will plenty of opportunities for photographs on the seven mile drive and time to take short walks on the hiking trails.