Dry Tortugas 2012
Lead By: Wes Biggs and eight other great leaders
Aboard: The Florida Fish Finder
Departing From: Key West
The Destination & The Birds
Dry Tortugas National Park is the most remote park in the entire system. Located 68 miles from Key West the park consists of 7 islands and 102 square miles of ocean and coral reefs. The Dry Tortugas is quite simply one of the world’s greatest birding destinations!! For the North American or Florida lister it is a MUST BIRD place!! For the bird photographer it is spectacularly unique! The Florida peninsula and the Upper Keys are sub-tropical, but when you reach the town of Marathon on Key Vaca you enter the true tropics. There has never been a freeze recorded south of this location. A number of species reach their northernmost breeding range in the Keys and Dry Tortugas. The rare Antillean Nighthawk arrives in the lower keys to nest in the later half of April and is a regular migrant through the Tortugas. Brown Boobies, and Black Noddies are regular in the Tortugas as non-breeders and Red-footed Booby and White-tailed Tropicbirds are rare visitors as well. The Dry Tortugas is the only North American nesting location for the Magnificent Frigatebird, Masked Booby and Brown Noddy, and the only regular nesting site of the Sooty Tern. Migrating raptors and dozens of species of land birds are a great draw as well, but the lure of a stray from the Caribbean is like gold fever to the hardcore birder.
Photography
The photographic opportunities at Dry Tortugas are many and varied. Tropical species not found elsewhere in North America are great fun, but spring plumage migrants posing at very close range are just as exciting. Spectacular coral reefs and the most beautiful 19th century brick fort in the Western Hemisphere will keep you busy!
The Boat
The Florida Fish Finder is a beautiful 105-foot vessel that comfortably sleeps a maximum of 36 guests. All meals are included and snacks and drinks are provided throughout the day. You can find more information on their website.
Point of Departure
All Dry Tortugas tours depart from the Sunset Marina located at 5555 College Road, Key West, Florida 33040. This location is actually on Stock Island, which is adjacent to the island of Key West but is within the city limits. Take a look at Google Maps or check out the marina’s web site.
Dates
Dry Tortugas I Friday April 13- Monday April 16, 2012
Dry Tortugas II Friday April 20 – Monday April 23, 2012
Dry Tortugas III Tuesday April 24 – Friday April 27, 2012
Dry Tortugas IV Thursday May 3 – Sunday May 6, 2012
Dry Tortugas V Monday May 7 – Thursday May 10, 2012
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival & South Florida Specials
Wes Biggs and co-leaders will be in Key West by 10am of 'day one' and is available to pick up people at the Key West airport, bus station or ferry dock. There will be a hospitality suite for use at a nearby hotel with several bedrooms and a full kitchen loaded with drinks and snacks. If you're tired after a long flight or drive, freshen up, take a nap, have a snack or if your ready to do some tropical birding we will be hitting the several great local parks looking for South Florida specialties such as White-crowned Pigeon, Mangrove Cuckoo, Gray Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, and if they have arrived from their winter quarters, Antillean Nighthawk. There will also be spring migrants around and if we really hit it big, a Caribbean stray! We will board the boat later that night.
Day 2 - Pelagic & Old Fort
At first light on day two we will head for the edge of the reef to search for pelagic species that are more associated with the Gulf Stream, and not usually found at the Dry Tortugas. Audubon's Shearwater, Bridled Tern, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel and White-tailed Tropicbird are all possibilities. We will reach the Tortugas about mid-day. Massive Fort Jefferson seemingly rising up out of the ocean is a never to be forgotten sight! After lunch we'll begin our exploration of Garden Key and the old Fort.
Days 3 & 4 - Loggerhead Key & Beyond
Thousands of Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies will be close at hand, Magnificent Frigatebirds will be hanging overhead and colorful migrants will be only feet away. Don't forget your camera! A beautiful sunset and a night walk around the moat wall looking for sea creatures will round out the day.
The next two days will also involve a search of Loggerhead Key and close up views of the Masked Booby colony and the frigatebird colony. We should see Brown Boobies and with a little luck, the rare Black Noddy.
After lunch on day four we will make a straight shot back to Key West arriving about 4:00 PM.
The Price
$1100.00 per person
$250.00 deposit
Balance: 90 days prior to departure
Rebate - we offer a $50.00 rebate to all past FNT Dry Tortugas tour participants
To reserve a space: Contact Wes Biggs by email or call 407-384-9766 or 407-376-6967 or use our registration form.
We would be happy to answer any questions you have - just fill in our contacts form with your queries and we'll get back to you.