Just off Amelia Island’s south end, across the Nassau Sound bridge, sits Spoonbill Pond. It’s an excellent spot for sighting a diversity of bird species.
One need only drive off the south end of Amelia Island, crossing the Nassau Sound, to find Spoonbill Pond on the other side of the bridge. It’s one of the best places around Amelia Island for bird observation. Located on Big Talbot Island, pictured above is a gathering of Roseate Spoonbills photographed at this pond.
Northeast Florida — Atlantic Flyway
“Northeast Florida is the second-largest migration path for birds on the Atlantic Flyway,” according to the Duval Audubon Society. Spring migration is March through May, and fall migration is September into early November here in northeast Florida.
Half Mile Boardwalk — Timucuan Trail
Spoonbill Pond Boardwalk, Big Talbot Island State Park
Segment 3 of the Timucuan Trail, completed a few years ago, is a boardwalk that was built at the edge of Spoonbill Pond along Heckscher Drive. The half-mile-long wooden pedestrian/bike boardwalk is slightly elevated above Spoonbill Pond, and connects to the existing paved trail on Big Talbot Island. Parking for those going to Spoonbill Pond is available at the Sawpit Creek Boat Ramp (on the opposite side of Heckscher Drive), with a pedestrian crossing lane/light.
According to eBird, more than 220 species have been sighted at Spoonbill Pond, an important stop during bird migration. Birds pass through heading south in fall or north during spring migration. There are also “regulars” that can be spotted here year round. Others are seasonal, staying around during summer months or wintering birds.
A sampling of just some of the species sighted the last few days of March 2021 at Spoonbill Pond include: American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Blue-Winged Teal, Wood Storks, Dunlin, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Black-Necked Stilt, Clapper Rail, and Hooded Merganser.
Watch Video About Spoonbill Pond
Learn more about Spoonbill Pond with host Ron Pfeffer, Florida Master Naturalist. This video is a presentation by the North Florida Land Trust. The NFLT helped to preserve acreage on the north end of Spoonbill Pond and elsewhere on Big Talbot Island.
North Florida Land Trust
NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations.
