La Rue Bijou - Oh, To Be An Early Bird at the Orlando Wetlands

 

CHRISTMAS, Fla.--My birding friends may not be early birds unless they have news of migrating sandhills, nesting roseate spoonbills or sightings of another exotic bird on their bucket list.

And with news of a sighting, they arise before daybreak and spring into action. Their cameras, binoculars and snacks packed the night before.  But who can pass up a chance to see these “divas” first hand.  

 Although I am not a birder--only an amateur with an interest in Florida wading birds--I could not pass up a chance to see roseate spoonbills with  flashy pink plumage, awaiting for their chicks to hatch.  

  

 Rookery, viewed from the boardwalk 

 

 

 

The Orlando Wetlands is about an hour from Melbourne, an easy drive on I-95 then on Route 50 to a small town called Christmas. 

 

We arrived at 10 am well after the sunrise opening of the wetlands. An information kiosk has information on the birds (a field checklist) as well as pamphlets on this 1,650-acre constructed wetlands that provides advanced treatment of wastewater as well as marshlands for many wading birds. 

 

It's a short walk along a lime-rock road from the parking lot, past the visitor education center to the boardwalk, which crosses above the marshlands to the rookeries. 

 

 Already serious birders had set up along the boardwalk, most with telephotos aimed toward the rookeries and others with binoculars. 

 

                                   An Anhinga to the left. Nests of Great Blue Herons & 

                                    Woodstorks above, center.  

  

 

 There were great displays of plumage--some for mating—along the boardwalk. The anhinga with its turquoise eyes. 

 

 

 

 

A landscape of "pincushion" islands of cabbage palms as my sister has described them. In the distance, that constant murmuring—the castanet-like sounds of wood storks—other “conversation” coming from the rookeries. The bright splashes of pink spoonbills as they arrange themselves in nests, often in cabbage palms, while their partners fly off in search of twigs. In higher treetops, the Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were more difficult to spot by amateurs like me. Some birders spoke excitedly of a night heron. . . .

On the marshy side of the boardwalk, I could recognize coots, common gallinules as well as the purple gallinule with plumage the colors of an oil slick. The anhinga remains a favorite, and one I can identify. 

                                                             Purple Gallinule 

 Even though this site is a constructed wetlands—it does not replace the natural wetlands that have been lost to development--it may give a glimpse into scenes described by some of the early naturalists. That tangle of nature, which almost camouflages  wildlife. 

An alligator beneath the middle cypress

 Those rookeries, which were nearly wiped out in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries when an estimated 5-million birds were killed for their plumage used for ladies’ hats. (Weeks)  until women conservationists formed the first Audubon Society in 1905 ("History," Saha). 

                                                      Treetop nesting
 

It seems only recently we have begun to appreciate this Florida landscape, a mysterious beauty that serves a vital function in removing nutrients from reclaimed waters and providing habitat for more than 230 species of birds here ("Orlando Wetlands History). 

 

 At one end of the boardwalk, most birders headed toward the sandy berms to continue the loop back to the visitors center. I followed--but only briefly. Alligators sunned on these banks. Too close for comfort to me. I returned via the boardwalk. 

By late morning, it was already getting hot when we left. I had learned to identify several more species and am planning to return when rookeries take on a new life with the chicks. But I'll never be an early bird . . . at least not by birding standards. 

 

                                                  A photographer targets an alligator. 

  

                                       The Visitor Center & numerous educational displays 

If you go. . . .

 The Orlando Wetlands - open daily (closed on Mondays) from sunrise to sunset. Best to go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. 

 Allow at least two hours for a quick visit. In addition to the boardwalk, the park includes 18 miles of berm road trails, more than 230 species of birds and an estimated 1,700 alligators. 

Restrooms are available both at the parking lot and visitor center. The Visitor Center, which also has educational displays and materials and volunteers to answer questions, is open 9 am to 4 pm.

Covered picnic tables are located by the parking lot. Be sure to pack water and a snack.  

 Join the Facebook page for Orlando Wetlands to keep up to date. 

 The Orlando Wetlands is located at 25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas, Fla. 32709. 

 

 

 

                                                        Works Cited  

 

 “Orlando Wetlands History.” City of Orlando. https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Departments-Offices/Public-Works/Water-Reclamation-Division/Orlando-Wetlands/Orlando-Wetlands-History. Accessed 18 February 2026.

Saha, Purbita. “A Hat Tip to the Women who Started Conservation in the U.S.” Audubon. 8 July 2018. https://www.audubon.org/magazine/hat-tip-women-who-started-modern-bird-conservation-us. Accessed 20 February 2026.

“The History of Audubon and Bird Conservation.” Audubon. 4 February 2026. https://www.audubon.org/about/history. Accessed 20 February 2026.

 Weeks, Linton. “Hats Off To Women Who Saved The Birds.” NPR History Department. 15 July 2015. https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/07/15/422860307/hats-off-to-women-who-saved-the-birds. Accessed 20 February 2026.