Wildlife Viewing Platform
Visitors using the new wildlife viewing platform will have the opportunity to observe the more than 30 species of birds that use the area as a rookery, roost and feeding area. In addition 16 species of birds nest at the refuges. The objective of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is to protect the historic rookery and to provide habitat for migrating birds and threatened and endangered species.
$19,500 plus $19,500 in local matching funds.
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1903 as the first National Wildlife Refuge in the United States.
Beat the Winter Blues in
Sunny Florida
From the elevated platform that lifts visitors above the Indian River Lagoon, Pelican Island’s modest five acres of mangroves dramatically understate the importance of this site to birds and wildlife. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt declared Pelican Island the nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge, a system that now includes more than 530 refuges and 95 million acres of the most important wildlife habitats in our country.
In recognition of the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Centennial, Pelican Island was awarded a $39,000 grant through the Pathways To Nature® Conservation Fund to create educational displays that highlight the area’s unique wildlife and the efforts underway to protect this historic site.
Hiking the boardwalk that leads to the elevated platform overlooking the island is the best way to see this refuge. Freshwater wetlands teem with wading birds such as White Ibis, Little Blue Heron, and Wood Stork. Otters frolic in the water, and traces of bobcat can be found on the boardwalk. Overhead, Red-shouldered Hawks scold and Anhingas soar.
The displays funded by the Pathways To Nature grant introduce visitors to Pelican Island’s rich history and its abundant wildlife. As you slowly ascend the boardwalk, each refuge added to the system has its own plank in the walkway, providing a unique historical perspective. Once you reach the summit, the Indian River Lagoon stretches before you. Don’t forget your binocular and spotting scope. From this elevated perch, you can spot Brown Pelicans, Reddish Egrets, and songbirds in the mangroves below. President Roosevelt’s legacy is a network of wildlife refuges second to none. Wild Birds Unlimited and Pathways To Nature are helping millions of visitors enjoy these sites even more. For information on Pelican Island, visit http://PelicanIsland.fws.gov.
The Pathways To Nature Conservation Fund is a partnership between Wild Birds Unlimited stores and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund environmental education and wildlife viewing projects. We encourage all of our customers to visit these incredible places. Your patronage helped make these projects possible!
