Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!nbires!hao!husc6!cfa!willner
From: willner@cfa.harvard.EDU (Steve Willner)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Everlades National park info requested.
Message-ID: <851@cfa.cfa.harvard.EDU>
Date: 4 Jan 88 02:42:00 GMT
References: <10017@mimsy.UUCP>
Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. for Astrophysics
Lines: 45

in article <10017@mimsy.UUCP>, vivek@mimsy.UUCP (Vivek Nirkhe) says:
> Keywords: Everglades, bird-list, binoculors
> We are planning to visit Everglades National park around 15th of Jan. for
> 3 days.
> Which book will help?

An excellent book is "A Birder's Guide to Florida" by James A. Lane.
The edition I have is 1984: L & P Press, Box 21604, Denver, CO 80221.
The price marked is $7.00.  We actually bought it in Florida; I think
it was in the National Park bookstore at the Visitor's Center.  The
book gives very detailed information about sites and the birds
expected.  (The book is a list of sites, not a field guide, so take a
good field guide as well.)

Also, park rangers give excellent birding walks and will tell you
where else to look.

> What birds do I expect to see? 

An absolutely incredible variety: ducks, terns, egrets, osprey,
red-shouldered hawks by the hundreds, nighthawks, and more that I
can't remember.  And how about roseate spoonbills and anhingas?  We
didn't see any bald eagles, I'm sorry to say, but they do nest there.

> Do migratory birds reach till southern florida?

Most do, but I think not all.

> What kind of weather will it be? Does it rain a lot?

Very comfortable.  Rain is possible any time, but you should get
ample dry weather unless you're unlucky.  Do take insect repellent,
though. 

> Does anyone have any recommendations regarding Bushnell 7-21 X 35 binocs?

I'm not familiar with these in particular, but zoom binoculars
generally have tiny fields of view and poor images.  And powers above
10-12 or so will almost surely require a tripod or other support.

Have a great trip.  Let us know how it goes.
-- 
Steve Willner            Phone 617-495-7123          Bitnet: willner@cfa2
60 Garden St.            FTS:      830-7123           UUCP:   willner@cfa
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA                     ARPA: willner@cfa.harvard.edu