Birding Sites in Gainesville and Alachua County, FL
Alachua County is a gateway location on The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail and early 300 bird species have been spotted at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park alone. The Alachua Audubon Society organizes the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) each year in December. They have recently recorded record-setting numbers including 77,572 birds on a single day during the 62nd Annual CBC in 2021.
Explore Alachua County’s top birding sites:
- Sweetwater Wetlands Park
- La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
- Bolen Bluff Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
- Cones Dike Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
- Lake Wauburg at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
- San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park
- Newnans Lake
- Morningside Nature Center
- Chapman’s Pond
- UF Hague Dairy
- Barr Hammock Preserve
Migratory birds call the Gainesville area home during winter months including Sandhill Cranes, Cedar Waxwings, American Robins and more.
Grab some binoculars and plan for upcoming events:
- National Go Birding Day, Saturday, April 29
- Sunrise Ranger Hike at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Saturday, April 29, 7:30 a.m.
- Birding Field Trip with Alachua Audubon Society at Palm Point Park, Saturday, April 29, 8 a.m.
- Ranger-Led Walking Tour at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Sunday, May 7, 2:30 p.m.
- World Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, May 13
Scroll down to explore more local birding sites and discover more in Alachua County:
