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Sarasota County - Birding in Paradise

Sarasota County has some of the best birding hotspots in Florida. 

As a rest stop for migratory birds with bountiful lands such as the Celery Fields and Myakka State Park, there's always something new to be seen through the binocular lens.

It's 8 a.m. on a Monday morning at Myakka River State Park. Already Owen Comora is fielding questions from visitors of the park.

"Where's the Lipkin?" one visitor asks.

"I heard him, sounds like he's over here," Comora says.

Comora isn't on the clock today, but he's happy to answer questions from visitors nonetheless.

"It's an honor to be out here every day and to have people who actually listen to me when I talk about the birds and they seem to be interested," Comora says. "It's not only an honor, it's kind of thrilling."

Comora started a bird naturalist program at Myakka River State Park fifteen years ago. He says now there are more people coming to Sarasota for birding activity than golfing and fishing, combined.

He would likely know. As a member of the Sarasota Audubon Society, Comora is involved in not just birding at Myakka River State Park, but all over Sarasota County.

Comora says another hot spot in Sarasota is the CeleryFields. From Nov. 1 through May 1, the Sarasota Audubon Society offers a bird naturalist program daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Bird Naturalists are stationed at the far end of the Celery Field boardwalk to help identify birds and native plants.

Learn more Comora, about birding in Sarasota, and Myakka River State Park in the video below. For more about the Sarasota Audubon Society, visit Sarasotaaudubon.org.