Florida Airboat Rides
During your Wild Florida airboat tours, a common animal to spot is a bird. Over 350 species of birds reside in the Florida Everglades, ranging from hawks, owls, cranes, and ducks. The Everglades serves an ideal location for most species due to the shallow water providing easy access to fish and insects. Bird species break down into three categories: wading birds, land birds, and birds of prey. An iconic bird of prey you’ll find on an Orlando airboat ride is the bald eagle.
As the national symbol of the United States, the bald eagle’s name is not derived from actually being bald but from an older meaning for “white headed”. Both male and female have identical plumage, but females grow to be 25 percent larger than males. Sizes of bald eagles vary by location, with the smallest located here at Wild Florida and the largest from Alaska. Their signature white feathers on their head and tail do not grow in till they’re about five years old, making them easier to spot on a Florida airboat tour.
Bald eagles are opportunistic feeders and eat anything from a variety of fish, mammals, and even other birds. When a bald eagle catches their prey, one claw is used to hold the meal while the other tears the flesh. The bald eagle’s diet is based on habitat, which can range from seacoasts, rivers, lakes, and other large bodies of water, such as the location of Wild Florida at the headwaters of the Everglades.
How many birds will you spot on one of your next Wild Florida airboat tours? Will you search for a bald eagle or try to find them all? At Wild Florida we’ll be happy to help with your bird watching. Call us at 407-901-2563 or book one of our Florida airboat tours online today!
