sassman3629L Loc: South Florida

If I were You I would have more fear of the Burmese Pythons that are just thick in the Everglades. Google Pythons in Florida and it will give you things to be aware of if you are thinking of doing this without a guide? We have had instances where 16 foot long Pythons have been discovered. Our native population of small game animals have been decimated by this unwelcome invasive species.
Raccoon populations are down 90 %, Possumms are down even more as they are slower. Florida panthers have also been affected by this loathesome apex predator which has no natural enemy in the U.S.A.

Some of the Indians Reservations (Mikosukee & Seminole) have guides and large party air boats which is the one way to see the Glades. I would tend to rent a guided air boat (private) for one or up to six people and then you can dictate what you want to do and not have to compete with some tourist with a big floppy hat who is always in front of you lens when something shows up that you want to shoot. In that way you would gain local knowledge which come from a lifetime of living in the area.

I live in South Florida and if you PM me a couple of months before You are coming to Florida I will try to assist you find what You are looking for?
Cordially,
Sonny
PS: There is a wetlands in Western Palm Beach County thet has elevated wooden walkways which you can stroll on and gain wonderful access to wildlife right over the swamp. I believe it is called Green Cay?

Naps Loc: New Jersey USA

If I were You I would have more fear of the Burmese Pythons that are just thick in the Everglades. Google Pythons in Florida and it will give you things to be aware of if you are thinking of doing this without a guide? We have had instances where 16 foot long Pythons have been discovered. Our native population of small game animals have been decimated by this unwelcome invasive species.
Raccoon populations are down 90 %, Possumms are down even more as they are slower. Florida panthers have also been affected by this loathesome apex predator which has no natural enemy in the U.S.A.quote]

Sonny, thanks for your answer. I forgot that I had seen on TV about these snakes and the panthers. I once drove down the highway along the everglades and saw gators and have not wanted to return.
I see so many beautiful photos here from Florida- I thought it would be a great place to go to on my week off in January! I will PM you.
Regards

Langleydc Loc: Alva fla.

March 13 thru March 16 2013 in Clewison fl. There is the Big O Birding Festival
I have went 4 years now. I really enjoyed it very much. You are taken to different sites by bus and a tour guide. Also they have trips on the Big O Lake.
It is put on by the Glades and Hendry county tourism. If you want I have more imformation on it. Also they have a web site. South fla. Audubon helps put this on also.
You see all kinds of birds and be among many birders from all over. Also in between trips they have lectures. Made arrangements with the Port Labelle Inn for I think discounted pricing.

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

Big snakes were once somebody's loving pets and they got turned loose in the wild because people didn't want to hurt their pets. Now look at what is going on. We spent three days in the heart of the swamp recently and saw hundreds of gators but no snakes. The snakes are more around the highways I think. I don't like snakes either. Just watch where you walk as you would in any part of the country, not just Florida.

sassman3629L Loc: South Florida

Frank:
That is correct but only a very small part of the initial problem. During Hurricane Andrew an importer of snakes had his building blown asunder (destroyed)and all the cages were destroyed releasing the snakes (10,000) and other reptiles in SW Dade county. Of course our climate was ideal
This gave the population a head start and these large snakes having no native predator had huge advantage in becoming established the small game population has been decimated because the Pythons are apex predators.
It took the state of Florida several years to fully realize we had a much larger problem than originally thought and now "Teams of Hunters" are working at night when the snakes are at their best to eradicate all that they find. Thease snakes even consume our native American Alligator.

Female Pythons have up tp 60 offspring each time they nest at maturity and they are now spread over almost all of South Florida and moving North.
If You are interested just Google Pythons in Florida and you will be amazed?
Cordially,
Sonny

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

You can easily either do the East coast or the West coast, ending in the Everglades and the keys. You have a bunch of days, but of course, the mornings will be for birding and the daytime for travel! So - flying into Orlando you can go either direction. East coast puts you at Merriott Island Wildlife Refuge to start. Below that in Viera is the "Viera Wetlands" as the locals call it. It is actually the "Brevard County Wastewater Treatment Facility at Viera", about 1.5 miles West of I-95 on Wickham Rd. You can drive around the lagoons which are the final stage of aeration for the water before releasing it back into the river - probably around 2 miles of road. You can walk, sit on benches, etc. It is loaded with migratory birds this time of year. A few big gators, but they mostly stay on an island. Then head to the Everglades and the Keys.

The West Coast I am not so familiar with, but there are great refuges like Ding Darling on Sanibel. Also in the Crstal River area, and you can visit with the manatees while you are there - they stay in the clear/warmer spring water in the winter. Then head down to the Everglades and keys.

Take repellant - bugs can sometimes be annoying. I like to carry the packaged wipes - and just pull one out if/when needed. They don't tend to be greasy like some of the sprays and creams.

Have fun!

Alligator sunning himself, Viera Wetlands, Florida

ollie Loc: Ogdensburg, NY

Try the Ding Darling Nature Center on Sanibal Island near Ft Myers. Don't overlook the Nature Center near the Space Coast.
Believe it or not another great spot is at the Alligator Farm in St Augustine. The egrets love to nest right above the gators. It inhibits the predators

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I also found that any time someone showed up at the beach with a fishing pole, a great blue heron would soon land near them to wait for handouts. You cannot get as close to them when you are merely trying to get their picture! Same for pelicans, especially at Sebastian Inlet State Park, about 20 miles south of Melbourne Beach on Highway A1A. That is also a good spot to get really close-up shots of wood storks and skimmers.