Winter months bring a seasonal sensation to Sarasota and her islands, a wildlife wonderland when sightings are plentiful and bird watching is at its best. Deciduous trees reveal deer, bobcats and fox; alligators bask on the banks and migratory birds join year-round residents. Wading birds feast on fish easily found in waters most shallow this time of year, and nesting comes naturally as there's plenty of food for the entire family. Manatees are drawn to the warmth of the bay

Bird watching at Oscar Scherer State Park

and pop up in bayous as offshore waters cool. With all this activity, it's no surprise that winter is an ideal time to meet our furry, feathered and finned friends.

An excellent place to start is Myakka River State Park. It features a vast tract of Florida prairie, Sarasota's two largest lakes, river marsh and 14 miles of the Myakka River, which was designated a Florida Wild and Scenic River by the Florida State Legislature in 1985. There are 39 miles of backcountry trails, boardwalks, nature tours by tram or boat and a
visitor center.

Winter and spring find flocks of ducks, warblers, wading birds and hawks. "The big news is migratory birds," says Park Services Specialist Paula Benshoff. "There are a lot of hawks here only in winter; eagles are nesting and can be seen fishing the Upper and Lower Myakka Lakes." Roseate spoonbills, wood storks and ducks increase in numbers and rarely seen birds like the avocet and caracara appear.

Benshoff explains that wildlife is more concentrated and visible in winter. "As the trees lose their leaves it's easy to see mammals," she says. "Deer are commonly seen; also raccoons, opossums, armadillos, fox, bobcats, once in while an otter - they travel more when the water goes down - and every now and then, a little black bear." There are also, of course, alligators and turtles sunning on the shores during the day and snakes warming themselves on the pavement at sundown.

Kayaking is an exciting way to take in Sarasota's wildlife

The eastern indigo snake is among the special residents of Oscar Scherer State Park. The park's 1,382 acres, comprised of pine and scrubby flatwoods, a blackwater stream and Lake Osprey, are also home to a large population of gopher tortoises, gopher frogs and the threatened Florida scrub-jay. Winter adds warblers, ducks, geese, red-tailed hawks, white pelicans and whip-poor-wills. Bald Eagles are here from October through May.

Southwest Florida District Biologist Terry Hingtgen tracks, monitors and surveys listed species, such as Sherman's fox squirrel, which has a black mask and grows up to three feet long. Hingtgen explains that vigilance is key. "You have to be alert," he says. "I just saw a gray fox; there's also the occasional white-tailed deer. You might even see a bobcat run into the palmettos on a footpath ahead of you." Besides hiking, canoeing is very popular at the park and affords views of wading birds, alligators and river otters.

One of the star attractions at Crowley Museum and Nature Center is a 2,000-foot boardwalk, which traverses Maple Branch Swamp and the Tatum Sawgrass Marsh. Visitors can safely enjoy the sights and sounds of the swamp without getting their feet wet. An observation tower at the end of the boardwalk is a favorite spot for birders.

Another exciting way to see Sarasota's wildlife is by kayak, according to David Bulloch, regional director of the Southeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society (ALS). The not-for-profit, all-volunteer society is dedicated to the environmental well-being of coastal habitat and offers organized kayaking outings, among other fun and educational tours.

"Kayaking is a beautiful way to glide into places that there's absolutely no other way to reach," he explains. "It provides opportunities for discovering oyster beds, fish breeding areas and unspoiled, hidden pockets teeming with marine life."

Bulloch suggests some lesser-known hotspots for viewing coastal creatures: The bay side of South Lido Beach, Bay Walk on City Island and Bird Key Park are just a few. You can find horse conch, lightning whelks, pink shrimp and seahorses in knee-deep water. The male sailfin molly flashes a blue iridescent dorsal at Bay Walk, while bottlenose dolphin frolic offshore. The bay side of the beach at Palmer Point hosts oystercatchers, roseate spoonbills and other wading birds attracted to these fish-fertile flats. Further north, the Bird Colony Islands are a series of mangrove islands with hundreds of nesting birds at the height of the season from January through April. And that alone, Bulloch says, "... is a sight worth seeing!"

What are you waiting for? Grab your binoculars, scoop up the kids, slap on some sunscreen and see Sarasota's show of wildlife this winter.