Dry Tortugas 2025: Seabirds & Spring Migration

Meet in Key West early evening to board the “Makai” for the first of 3 nights.

We set sail before dawn. Daybreak will find us out in the Gulf Stream (weather permitting), where pelagic birding should reward us with Bridled Tern, Audubon Shearwater, northbound Pomarine Jaegers and there is always the chance of a White-tailed Tropicbird (don’t count on it, though we did see it in 2004) Roseate Terns often are seen on the buoys, as are Brown Boobies.  Nearing the Dry Tortugas, Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies and Magnificent Frigatebirds will become a common sight. This is the only place in North America where these 3 species nest along with Masked Boobies. Once we reach the 15-acre Garden Key, the second largest of the 7 islands that make up the Dry Tortugas, most of our birding will be done within the remains of the impressive 19-century brick Fort Jefferson. Here amongst the sea grapes, cottonwoods and Geiger trees we should encounter a wide variety of migrants, including Gray and Eastern Kingbirds, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Red-eyed Vireo, and numerous warblers including Blackpoll, Cape May, Black-throated Green, Palm and Magnolia. For those who are patient enough to sit by the water fountain, the only source of freshwater on the island, the rewards should be great, as all passerines will eventually make their way down for a drink or to bathe.

All of Garden Key, the campground, shrub covered brick piles, coaling docks, and beaches, will be explored for additional passerines that may have dropped in, such as Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-whiskered Vireo, Ovenbird, Black-and-White Warbler, Wood Thrush, Common Nighthawk, and the Caribbean race of Short-eared Owl known as the “Arawak Owl”. Shiny Cowbird, Orchard Orioles, Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Common Yellowthroats and Bobolinks are all certainly possible as they try to avoid one of the many raptors such as Merlin or Peregrine that can be seen perched on one of the few trees. During our stay we will visit Hospital Key by boat, from which we will view the Masked Boobies as they return to this small sand key from fishing forays. We will also utilize our zodiac to see Magnificent Frigatebirds nesting up close and view nesting Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies from the spit adjoining Garden and Bush Key. The Dry Tortugas being the only place in North America where these four species breed! A highlight will surely be finding a Black Noddy amongst the hundreds of Brown Noddies that roost on the coaling docks or on Bush Key. Not an easy task! For those with an interest in marine life, a walk around the moat walk can yield some fascinating creatures.  Green Moray Eels, lobsters, jellyfish, starfish, octopus, tropical fish, Nurse and Hammerhead Sharks have all been seen lurking amongst the sea coral in these tropical waters. Anyone interested in snorkeling (only allowed around the outside of the moat) will have to bring their own gear.

After breakfast, we’ll make a short visit to Garden Key to check for any overnight migrants before heading back to Key West. Along the way we should encounter Brown Boobies perched on buoys along the park perimeter boundary; Bottle-nosed Dolphins; Loggerhead Turtles and Gannets, Royal, Sandwich and Roseate Terns, as we get closer to our destination.

We aim to return to Key West between 3 and 4pm.

Note: The daily itinerary may change but we hope to be able to get to do everything mentioned during the course of our trip. The seas and weather conditions will dictate our sailing times and route. Should the weather be good when we set sail from Key West, we will venture into the Gulf Stream to look for pelagic species prior to arriving at Garden Key early afternoon, after lunch.