I am traveling to southern FL in early May, and may have a day and half to do some photography. I will be in Ft. Lauderdale, but am contemplating a drive over to the Venice rookery. Is early May a good time to be at the rookery i.e. many nesting birds etc. Also, any good places near Ft. Lauderdale for wildlife. Thanks,
Posted by Lance Warley on April 9, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Green Cay and Wakodahatchee are both good. On any given day, they can be very good. They're 30-45 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale in Boynton Beach. You can google them for directions.
If you are crossing to the West Coast, you may want to stop over at Captiva Island, FL and go to the Ding Darling Nature Preserve. It is closer than Venice. Find it on the internet and call them to see what is happening this time of year. It has a car path that you can actually walk to the three of the best places. There are two main big bodies of shallow water on your left and there is a separate path you can take on your right just after going through the gat (or was it before? memory fails me). The path comes right back to the starting point of the path, then you can head off for the water shots (birds that is). The car path is one way. You can drive through and come back around outside the Preserve and do it again all day for the same single one time fee. If you arrive very early (before opening time), you can leave the 1 or 2 dollar entrance fee in a box and walk around the gate. Several of us did that in order to get the golden glow sunrise in the images. On the two big waters on your left, sunrise will be behind you and sunset will be in front giving you some superb silhouettes. One day a week they do not allow any car traffic. There are some water ditches along side of the road. If you are walking, have a camera ready because you are apt to have a heron or so right next to you begging to be photographed. So walk quietly and be ready! BTW, while you are on Captiva, stop by the Mucky Duck for lunch or dinner at the beach and tell the owner, Victor, hello. Just do NOT tell him it is your birthday - you've been warned!! Try his hot coffee - it's great! heheheheh Oh yeah, be sure you take a long lens on tripod with you. If possible, have a short lens on another body for sudden handheld shots. Good shooting where ever you go!
Discussion
3 repliesI'm not familiar with the Venice rookery, though.
If you are crossing to the West Coast, you may want to stop over at Captiva Island, FL and go to the Ding Darling Nature Preserve. It is closer than Venice. Find it on the internet and call them to see what is happening this time of year. It has a car path that you can actually walk to the three of the best places. There are two main big bodies of shallow water on your left and there is a separate path you can take on your right just after going through the gat (or was it before? memory fails me). The path comes right back to the starting point of the path, then you can head off for the water shots (birds that is). The car path is one way. You can drive through and come back around outside the Preserve and do it again all day for the same single one time fee. If you arrive very early (before opening time), you can leave the 1 or 2 dollar entrance fee in a box and walk around the gate. Several of us did that in order to get the golden glow sunrise in the images. On the two big waters on your left, sunrise will be behind you and sunset will be in front giving you some superb silhouettes. One day a week they do not allow any car traffic. There are some water ditches along side of the road. If you are walking, have a camera ready because you are apt to have a heron or so right next to you begging to be photographed. So walk quietly and be ready! BTW, while you are on Captiva, stop by the Mucky Duck for lunch or dinner at the beach and tell the owner, Victor, hello. Just do NOT tell him it is your birthday - you've been warned!! Try his hot coffee - it's great! heheheheh Oh yeah, be sure you take a long lens on tripod with you. If possible, have a short lens on another body for sudden handheld shots. Good shooting where ever you go!
Troup
Dan