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Egmont Key Bird Sanctuary Tour
June 11, 2022 @ 3:30 pm - 8:00 pm
$35Friends of Tampa Bay NWR is holding an Egmont Key Bird Sanctuary Tour, Saturday, June 11, 2022.
3:30pm arrive at Fort DeSoto Boat Ramp to catch Hubbard’s Egmont Key Ferry. Parking is either in by the ramps or along the road – both required the Ft DeSoto parking fee.
Bring your hats, binoculars, cameras, sunglasses, sunblock, mosquito spray, raincoat (just in case), beverages, water, snacks, and anything else you might want. If you just want to sit on the beach or take a dip in the beautiful waters bring what you need.
The Captain will be dropping us off on Egmont after a lovely ride over there, always searching for sea life. We will stop by the Guardhouse to check out the exhibits then walk some of the trails in old Fort Dade either with our guides or on your own. We’ll see if the Black Skimmer colony on the northwest beach has eggs/chicks and look for other interesting birds. We will return to the drop-off point to re-board the ferry around 6:00 p.m. The Captain will give us the exact time as we are dropped off on the island. Once on board we will view Egmont Key by water seeing the ruins and whatever birds are there. Weather permitting, we will be treated to a short ride south to Passage Key to see the birds that are nesting there! We will have plenty of time to leisurely view the birds and learn about them from our wonderful narrator Ann Paul, retired Florida Audubon and birding expert. Dave Howard, Friends board member, will give us some of the amazing history of the island as we drift past the historic buildings. We plan to be back at Fort DeSoto Bay Pier around 8 p.m.
Cost is $35 per person trip fee. Contact Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges by mail at FTBNWR, PO Box 40782, St Petersburg, FL 33743-0782 or by email at www.TampaBayRefuges.org.