Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70-miles west of Key West Florida. It consists of 7-Islands, Garden Key which is home to Ft. Jefferson, Bush Key home to Sooty Tern and Brown Noddy colony, Long Key home to a nesting colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds, Loggerhead Key which is the largest Island, Hospital Key home to a nesting colony of Masked Boobies, Middle Key and East Key.
This is an absolute must for birders to come and visit this amazing place! It is truly a birders paradise! 80,000 Sooty Terns have nested here and 4,500 Brown Noddies, about 500 Magnificent Frigatebirds and 80-Masked Boobies! Migrating birds make their way across the Gulf of Mexico from their jumping off point the Yucatan Peninsula. As these birds cross the Gulf of Mexico, the Dry Tortugas offer a resting area. It also provides some limited food to help the birds along their way. Over 300-species of birds have been seen on these small Islands!
Fort Jefferson is an engineering marvel having been built with 16-million bricks. It was built to guard the gulf from incoming ships. It was never completed as the foundation started to sink from the massive weight. Construction was started in 1846 approximately 15-years later the construction was stopped.
This video will show some of the amazing birds seen on the boat ride there and once we arrive. This is older DV format so not quite as good as todays cameras. Enjoy!
29 май 2022
