In addition to being the seashell capital of the US, Sanibel Island is also considered to be one of the best places to go “birding”, especially during the winter when migratory birds flock to Florida in search of warmer weather. One of the best places to observe and photograph them is Tarpon Bay. Located along the Sanibel-Captiva Road, Tarpon Bay is part of the J. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge. The Bay (actually a mangrove estuary) consists of a series of islets, creating protected area where the wildlife can live safely while providing an opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat. Beyond the mangroves, the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico shimmer through small openings amidst the islets.

As we want to photograph the birds, we rent a 20-foot electric pontoon boat from the Tarpon Bay Explorers, which is environmentally friendly and very quiet, permitting us to get as close to the islets as permissible without scaring or stressing the birds. As the pontoon is flat, we are able to set up a tripod to steady the 500mm lens required for close-ups of the flocks.

The most interesting feature of Tarpon Bay is the Rookery Island where hundreds of egrets, herons, cormorants, ibis and pelicans roost and breed. Cormorants nest next to pelicans and egrets; herons step regally from branch to branch. A constant murmuring, crying, croaking, squealing, chattering and twittering fills the air.

In the spring, you can observe the birds buildings their nests, carrying bits of straw, twigs and sometimes large branches, to weave into a container for their eggs. The cormorants are the friendliest. Several of them follow us as we carefully guide the boat along the edge of the islets. They dive down to fish a small morsel and then pop up a few feet away before flying off to settle on a navigation post and dry off.

The pelicans look like a squadron of dive bombers as they glide on the air, wings spread, before diving headfirst into the water to catch one of the 200 species of fish that make their home in Tarpon Bay. Meanwhile overhead, ospreys soar over the water, waiting for the right moment to swoop down and capture a large fish in sharp talons. Osprey nests line the red mangrove trees along Tarpon Bay, and their sharp cries echo through the trees. Along the shores, pileated woodpeckers bore into the trees with their razor-like beaks to locate ants, producing a staccato drilling sound that announces their presence. If you are lucky you might spy a bottlenose dolphin or a manatee lounging in the water.

You can spend the entire day puttering around the Bay. The pontoon boat is equipped with an icebox in which you can store food and drinks. If you get too hot, slip over the side for a quick swim. Or you can rent a kayak or canoe and wander through the over 900 acres of pristine water. The best time to visit Tarpon Bay is early in the morning or later in the evening when the famous Sanibel sunset casts an orange glow over the islets as the birds settle down for the night. It is a very relaxing way to immerse yourself into the world of nature.

IF YOU GO
Tarpon Bay Explorers have kayaks, canoes and electric pontoon boats to explore the bay. There are also several guided tours where naturalists will take you through the mangrove forest. (900 Tarpon Bay, Sanibel; 239-472-8900). Open seven days a week starting at 0800.

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