Tucked around the bend heading into Tavernier is the Laura Quinn Bird Sanctuary, part of the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, a unique organization that allows visitors up and close encounters with pelicans, tiny eastern screech owls, vultures, great egrets, and other spectacular animals that have been injured and need rehabilitation or a permanent home.
One critter is this tiny eastern screech owl, Professor Moody, named after the Harry Potter book character with only one eye.
Much like Professor Moody, this guy suffered his injury in an epic battle – although his battle was against a highway car, not a wizard.
Just as spectacular is the wide enclosure for injured ducks and pelicans, whose formidable size is up and close for me to get some great shots.
Fun Fact: Pelicans have their own national wildlife refuge, and island dubbed “Pelican Island” off the east coast of Florida, designated by President Theodore Roosevelt.
I love the great egrets, especially the one that frequents our canal behind our apartment. They are such spectacular creatures, able to hold this lanky bodies completely still to snare an unknowing passerby fish and swallow him in one gulp.
Here’s one who walked the path with us through the sanctuary.
To get more ideas of fun Keys activities, see my previous blog posts, The Keys are beautiful, Everglades National Park, or Everglades part II.
We are currently looking for some cold weather (read:60F) activities for all our Northern guests flocking down for the winter. The people, not the birds – Ha!
Leave your suggestions for activities below!