Birding Nocatee Preserve
Birding Nocatee Preserve

Birding Nocatee Preserve

Nocatee’s nature-smart planning guarantees native wildlife residents a safe haven while visitors experience the wonders of nature in Ponte Vedra.

The Nocatee community offers birders a sample of the natural “Old Florida” setting. With natural trails and wide boardwalks, the trail meanders through to the Intracoastal Waterway. The park offers plenty of parking and restrooms at the trailhead.

Bring your binoculars as most of the birds will be high in the trees. Sightings include Hawks, Owls, Woodpeckers, Waxwings, Warblers, Finches and much more. Further down the trail, the Intracoastal Waterway offers a feeding area for Herons, Egrets, Wood Storks, Cormorants and other wading birds and shorebirds. The abundance of birds in this area has made it a well-known hot spot for birders.

Explore the Trail

Nocatee Preserve’s 2,400-acres is suited for birding, hiking, photography and horseback riding.

At a Glance Information for Birding the Nocatee Preserve

Fees/Permits: Free

Points of Interest: Nocatee Landing at the end of the trail, Intracoastal Waterway for wading birds and shorebirds

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Bug Factor: Moderate, challenging in the warmer months. Bring bug spray.

Restrooms: at the Trailhead

Open: Daily from sunrise to sunset

Photo: Jean Hull

Be a Sustainable PVB Guest!

Limit your impact to the surrounding areas by being a “Sustainable Ponte Vedra Beach Guest” – keep these recommendations in mind.

Tips on How to be a Sustainable Ponte Vedra Beach Guest

  • Stay on track. Staying on designated trails to trampling on sensitive plants and animals.
  • Share the trail. Keep your eyes open for other cyclists, hikers, dog walkers and horseback riders.
  • Keep it natural. By packing out what you bring in you’ll help keep the “natural” in our “natural areas.”
  • Don’t feed wildlife. Feeding birds and other wildlife conditions them to handouts and eventually they will lose their fear of people and/or vehicles.
  • Stay chemical free. Stick to sunscreens that are free of oxybenzone and octinoxate, two of the most common ingredients found in chemical formulas.
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