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You Are Here: Home » Things to Do » Attractions and Family Fun » By Air and By Sea »
By Air and By Sea
When it comes to connecting with the past, Florida’s Beach is hard to beat. Some older American cities can tout buildings erected in the 1700s or events that occurred even earlier, but the cities of Florida’s Beach have prominent attractions that predate Columbus.
They have wildlife.
The birds, fish and animals that soared, swam and darted undisturbed on the Florida peninsula a thousand years ago are still here today. The people here care a great deal about wildlife and many do great things to protect and preserve it. To see care and education in person, pay visits to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and the Tarpon Springs Aquarium, destinations that focus on Florida fauna.
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
The 12-or-so foot-tall pelican sculpture by Gary Rager at mile marker 13 on Gulf Boulevard is an unmistakable sign that a visitor has found the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary, founded in 1971 and one of America’s largest wild bird rehabilitation centers, is an exquisite treat. Its small, unpaved parking lot is misleading when compared with the treasures that are inside.
Meet Isis, a red-tailed hawk that is blind in one eye and cannot hunt because it has no depth perception. It has been at Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary since 1990 and was once used in educational demonstrations.
Peer into aviaries housing multiple varieties of pelicans, vultures and terns. See and read about the red-winged blackbird, the most prolific bird in North America. Stare into the haunting eyes of the great horned owl.
Or join giddy children like Justin Klages and his disposable camera at the aviary that houses burrowing owls.
“I wanted to get
a picture up close, but he flew away so I got him flying,” said Justin, who said he was 6 years old and weighed “almost as much as a bag of chicken feed.”
He and his family were on vacation from Harvard, Ill.
“We have birds back home, but these are different birds, different animals. It’s neat to know,” said his mother, Kathy Klages. She made sure the trip to Florida’s Beach included more intimate, behind-the-scenes stops such as this one.
“It’s nice that they have something like this.”
The Sanctuary has so much to offer that the Klageses made two stops there in three days. Garrett, 11 “and a half” years old, was drawn to the warbler aviary, pointing out his favorite bluebird. Sister Katrina, 10, beamed as she came out of the gift shop in search of her father, Gary.
Many of the birds at Suncoast are permanent residents because they have been injured and cannot fend for themselves in the wild. Others are recovering and will be out in the skies, possibly joining the seven pelicans who provided a “flyover” on this day.
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is open 365 days a year and there is no charge for admission. It depends on the financial support of caring people, such as actress Dawn Wells. Her name appears on an aviary near the entrance: “Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) remembers with love and laughter Jim Backus, Mr. Howell of Gilligan’s Island.”
Konger Tarpon Springs Aquarium
Dodecanese Boulevard is difficult to negotiate in any kind of hurry thanks to a unique atmosphere and the seductive odors emanating from the many places to
eat great Greek food.
But once you make it to the traffic circle down the way, you have arrived at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium. Go inside for an intimate encounter (including two touch tanks) with life from the waters in and around the area.
“Daddy, look – whoa!” My daughter had immediately found a tank with three of the larger alligators she had seen. We strolled up close to investigate the teeth, tail and feet, then were fascinated by seeing what we had heard about: the gator’s “third” eyelid.
Time and again, just before the 5-foot-long animal submerged, a nictitating membrane drew across its eye from front to back, offering transparent protection underwater.
We were so smitten by the gator that we did not notice the massive alligator snapping turtle that had come to visit us at the bottom of the tank, its tiny eyes, huge head and deeply unattractive appearance fixing the attention of children and adults.
The main tank at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium holds 25 species of fish and three species of sharks. It also holds one human four times a day. Christine, Todd or Scott gets in dive gear that includes Kevlar gloves and jumps in the water to distribute meals. The shark feedings, at 11:30 a.m., 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., will command your attention.
Adjacent tanks hold a red serpent sea star, a panther grouper and a green moray eel. Many shark teeth are on display, including a few wider than an adult man’s fist.
Smaller teeth, from alligators and sharks, have become necklace pendants in the gift shop.
If you go:
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is located at 18328 Gulf Blvd. in Indian Shores and is open every day from 9 a.m. to dusk. Visit www.seabirdsanctuary.org or call (727) 391-6211.
The Tarpon Springs Aquarium is located at 850 Dodecanese Blvd. in Tarpon Springs and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with extended hours certain times of the year. Visit www.tarponspringsaquarium.com or call (727) 938-5378.
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