Off the side of the road in Tavernier Florida on the Florida keys is the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. It doesn’t look like much from the road (granted, nothing in the Keys looks like much from the road), but it’s worth pulling over to see the birds here.
The Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary is a refuge for more than 90 birds that cannot be released, representing 40 species. These birds were brought here for rehabilitation but are not able to live on their own. and mission
You’ll see all kinds of birds you don’t expect to see, like the owl above which looks like it belongs in the Harry Potter movie.
It was feeding time for many of the birds at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, and we saw a lot of dead mice in the cages, though most birds did not seem hungry at the time.
The facility is on 5 acres, but the actual usable space is much longer. There are some boardwalks you can go on to see the animals. Not pictured is a large caged area with sea birds, including laughing gulls that were SUPER loud. And it did sound like they were laughing. There were some other pretty birds in there too – they weren’t all the same.
Some of the birds at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, like the cardinal and blue jay, I see at my window bird feeder in New Jersey.
Our favorite bird at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center was Fred the Parrot, who realized, 10 minutes after spending time at his cage, that he talks. We heard him say “hello,” “bye bye” and he could mimic the sound of my husband making farting noises by blowing in his hands (my husband, not Fred).
If you visit the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center
Where: The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center is at 93600 Overseas Highway, Tavernier Florida
Cost/Hours: It is free to visit. They ask for a suggested donation in the box of $10/person.
Also in Florida
Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys
Everglades Alligator Farm and airboat ride
Fairchild Botanic Garden in Miami