State guide
When to catch Floridathrough the year
The peaks we can name in Florida each belong to a place, not the whole state. Warbler and shorebird migration at St. Marks: early April; Waterfowl at St. Marks: between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
When are you going?
Fall in Florida
Also good in fall
- Ding Darling RefugeSea turtles nest on Sanibel beaches, May to October
- Merritt Island RefugeFall songbird migration, especially warblers (fall on the refuge bird list: September–November)
- National Key Deer RefugeKey deer rut (breeding season) begins (September and October)
- St. Marks RefugeWaterfowl peak between Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Ten Thousand Islands RefugeBirds best viewed, above all wading birds, from about October to March
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after fall
“early in the month (April)” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Winter in Florida
- SEASON · WINTER WILDLIFEMerritt Island RefugeThe cool winter months, November to AprilFlorida
“the cool winter months, November to April” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
- More winter wildlife:Crystal River RefugeSt. Marks RefugeDing Darling Refuge
Also good in winter
- Crystal River RefugeManatee season (November 15 – March 31)
- Ding Darling RefugeOne of the best birding seasons of the year: shorebirds, waterfowl and wading birds, January–March
- Merritt Island RefugeBest birding of the year, November through April (winter waterfowl concentrations often top 100,000)
- National Key Deer RefugeWintering white pelicans and wading birds fish in the salt ponds (January and February)
- St. Marks RefugeWaterfowl peak between Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Ten Thousand Islands RefugeBirds best viewed, above all wading birds, from about October to March
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after winter
“early in the month (April)” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Spring in Florida
- USUAL PEAK · SPRING MIGRATIONSt. Marks RefugeEarly in the month (April)Florida
“early in the month (April)” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Also good in spring
- Ding Darling RefugeOsprey nesting peaks in March
- Merritt Island RefugeBest birding of the year, November through April (winter waterfowl concentrations often top 100,000)
- National Key Deer RefugeNeotropical migrant birds: peak northbound migration (March and April)
- St. Marks RefugeWarbler and shorebird migration peaks early in April
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Summer in Florida
Good in summer
- Ding Darling RefugeSea turtles nest on Sanibel beaches, May to October
- National Key Deer RefugeKey deer: peak fawning season, fawns with spots (May and June)
- St. Marks RefugeLarge flocks of white ibis, eastern kingbirds and purple martins along Lighthouse Road (July)
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after summer
“early in the month (April)” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Places in Florida
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
Places on this map, as a list
- Ding Darling RefugeLocal timing: January to March
- Ten Thousand Islands RefugeLocal timing: about October to March
Southwest Florida
Atlantic Coast
Florida Keys
Planning a Florida trip
Towns to stay in
- Jacksonville, FLHarris Neck Refuge · 92 mi
- Tampa, FLCrystal River Refuge · 64 mi
- Port St. Lucie, FLMerritt Island Refuge · 96 mi
- Cape Coral, FLDing Darling Refuge · 15 mi
- Gainesville, FLCrystal River Refuge · 57 mi
- Palm Bay, FLMerritt Island Refuge · 48 mi
- Lakeland, FLCrystal River Refuge · 69 mi
- Palm Coast, FLMerritt Island Refuge · 69 mi
- Boca Raton, FLTen Thousand Islands Refuge · 94 mi
- North Port, FLDing Darling Refuge · 42 mi
- Homestead, FLTen Thousand Islands Refuge · 77 mi
- Ocala, FLCrystal River Refuge · 34 mi
Nearest place we follow, straight-line miles.
Browse by season and event
- Winter wildlife · 5 places hereWinter wildlife in Florida →Winter wildlife, everywhere →
- Spring migration · 2 places hereSpring migration, everywhere →
- Wildlife by season · 2 places hereWildlife by season, everywhere →
- Wildflowers · 1 place hereWildflowers, everywhere →
Questions people ask
Can I paddle into Three Sisters Springs in winter at Crystal River Refuge?
No. Paddle craft are allowed inside Three Sisters Springs only between April 1 and November 14. During manatee season the seven warm-water manatee sanctuaries are in effect.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crystal River NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Does the refuge have a boat launch or run manatee tours at Crystal River Refuge?
No to both. The refuge has no water-access facilities, but several City boat ramps and private ramps (with a fee) reach refuge waters. Guided manatee tours are run by businesses that hold refuge Special Use Permits.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crystal River NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What does it cost at Ding Darling Refuge?
The visitor and education center and the Bailey Tract are free. Wildlife Drive is $10 per vehicle and the Indigo Trail is $1 per person.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Is the refuge open on Fridays at Ding Darling Refuge?
Wildlife Drive and the Indigo Trail close every Friday, all year. The visitor and education center is also closed on Fridays and federal holidays; the free Bailey Tract is open sunrise to sunset year round.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When are the roads and trails open at Merritt Island Refuge?
Refuge roads, trails and boat ramps are open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center, with restrooms and a short boardwalk, is open Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Merritt Island NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When are the refuge lands open at National Key Deer Refuge?
Every day from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. The Nature Center on Big Pine Key (30587 Overseas Highway, by the island's only traffic light) is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is the best place to start.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Key Deer Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Key Deer Refuge (Seasons of Wildlife) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Nearby state guides: South Carolina · Alabama · North Carolina
Florida in pictures
How we know
- Sep 28Park ServiceThe manatee season, sanctuaries, water access, Three Sisters Springs, the visitor center, fees and hours.Source (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crystal River NWR: Visit Us in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceSeasonal wildlife calendar in three-month blocks.Source (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceBest birding months (November–April), winter waterfowl concentrations and spring and fall warbler migrations.Source (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Merritt Island NWR: Birding in a new tab)
- Sep 29Park ServiceRefuge home page: Nature Center, Key deer, and a two-month-by-two-month seasons of wildlife calendarSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Key Deer Refuge (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceMonth-by-month wildlife calendar for the refuge.Source (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- Sep 29Park ServiceBirds are best viewed in winter, approximately October to March, especially from the Marsh TrailSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ten Thousand Islands NWR: Birding in a new tab)