Fort Pickens is
the largest of four forts built to defend Pensacola
Bay, Florida and its navy yard. The fort was begun
in 1829, completed in 1834, and used until the 1940s.
Following extensive repairs by the National Park Service,
the fort was reopened in 1976. The perfect getaway
for fishing, diving, and camping, this area also offers
a memorable experience for hikers and bikers. Stroll
along Blackbird Marsh and dune nature trails, and discover
the variety of island life.
Landscape & Wildlife: *Birding: This
migratory hotspot is not to be missed in spring,
as tired migrants make landfall after long over-water
flights. Batteries Langdon and Worth are both good
stops for migrants; closely check flowering oaks.
Please respect closed areas protecting nesting birds:
beachfront here is prime for breeding snowy plovers
and least terns spring through fall. Black terns
are ubiquitous in summer and fall. By far, the fort
and surrounding trails offer this site’s most
exciting birding. In open areas surrounding the fortifications,
watch for sentinel flycatchers on any minor promontory.
Grey kingbirds breed here and scissor-tailed flycatchers
are occasional in winter. The trails on the fort’s
bayside can be extraordinary for migrant songbirds
like Tennessee, Cape May, and magnolia warblers and
more. Morning is not necessarily the best time to
see these birds; long-term sighting logs from dedicated
local birders indicate these migrants can make landfall
in early afternoon; fallouts are exaggerated by early
afternoon rain showers that ground migrants as soon
as they reach land. Migrating raptors cruise the
dune line in October and April.
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