Majestic Whooping Cranes and Many Birds in
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
in Florida
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One of many white ibises in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in our 2014 Florida Winter Wildlife
Watching trip.
Zoom in for a close up view of white ibis.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is located at 4150 S Suncoast Blvd (US 19), Homosassa, FL 34448.
It is located in Homosassa Springs, 75 miles north of Tampa on U.S. 19 and 90 miles northwest of Orlando
near the west coast of Florida.

Map: Click here for interactive Google Map showing location of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Map: Click here for detailed park map of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
One of several beautiful and colorful wood ducks in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

A 1.1 mile trail winds throughout this Wildlife Park including paved trails and elevated boardwalk giving visitors a
rare opportunity to observe Florida's native wildlife in a natural setting to see many kinds of birds and other
wildlife, great for nature study and photography.
A huge spring, from which millions of gallons of fresh, clear water bubble every hour, is the centerpiece of this
park and the headwaters of the Homosassa River. Saltwater and freshwater fish are attracted to this large,
natural spring with its comfortable, year-round temperature of 72 degrees. Thirty-four varieties of fish have
been identified in the spring.

The year-round temperature of 72 degrees in Homosassa Springs and in Crystal River about 10 miles north
also provides warm safe heaven in the winter season for hundreds of manatees.  Visitors can see West Indian
manatees every day of the year from the park's underwater observatory in the main spring. This elevated
boardwalk starts at the park entrance and surrounds the main spring to the Fish Bowl which is the underwater
observatory. The Fish Bowl floating underwater observatory offers an unequalled, below-the-surface view of
manatees and fish in the clear spring environment.

However, we had seen hundreds of manatees and many fish in beautiful Blue Spring State Park in Part 4 of
this trip.  Therefore, we did not spend time to see manatees and fish in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State
Park. Instead, we spend most of time here watching many kinds of birds and other wildlife.
Majestic whooping crane (美洲的丹頂白鶴) in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Whooping crane is the
tallest American bird (5 feet tall) with a wing span of 7.5 feet and is named for the loud and prolonged sound
of its call.

However, whooping crane is critically endangered. The Whooping Crane is the rarest of the world’s 15 crane
species. It was near extinction in 1940s, only 15 left in 1940-1941. Intensive conservation efforts in last 50
years have increased the population of whooping crane to about 300. We, therefore, are very happy to see
the rare but majestic whooping crane here in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Two whooping cranes.

In our 2015 January birding tour of Texas Gulf Coast, we saw many wild whooping cranes as shown on my web
page at:

http://
shltrip.com/Red_Crowned_White_Cranes.html
Zoom in for a closer view of the head of whooping crane.
Black necked stilt with long legs.
Graceful egret.
Beautiful pink colored Flamingo
Brown Pelican
Alligators in this wildlife park
More Flamingos and other birds in this wildlife park.
Moorhen
Juvenile roseate spoonbill with pale pink color.

In our 2015 January birding tour of Texas Gulf Coast, we saw more than 30 beautiful and wild roseate
spoonbills as shown on my web page at:

http://
shltrip.com/Many_Beautiful_Roseate_Spoonbills.html
Night Heron
Many fish in the pond.
Juvenile ibises
Adult white ibis.
Cinnamon Teal
Green Heron
Crested Caracara.

In our 2015 January birding tour in Texas Gulf Coast, we also a crested caracara as shown on my web page
at:

http://
shltrip.com/More_on_Winter_Birding_Along_Gulf_Coast.html
Female wood duck
Horned Owl
This park showcases native Florida wildlife. The park is beautifully laid out, with lagoons, boardwalks, a
waterfall and bridges. We are very happy to have this opportunity to watch and to photograph so many kinds
of birds, especially the rare whooping cranes, and other wildlife in Florida in their natural setting at close
distance in this wildlife park. This is a wonderful place for bird watchers and bird  photographers. A visit to this
park is a day you'll long remember.

There are many interesting places in Florida to see various kinds of birds and wildlife. Parts 1 to 8 of our 2014
Florida Winter Wildlife Watching Trip are at:

Part 1 on
Big Swarm of Sea Birds Surrounding Fishing Boats near St. Johns River Ferry in Florida

Part 2 on Hundreds of Alligators and Many Birds in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National
Preserve in Florida

Part 3 on Beautiful Pink Roseate Spoonbills and Other Wildlife in Myakka River State Park in Florida

Part 4 on Hundreds of Manatees in Beautiful Blue Spring in Florida

Part 5 on Many Birds in Merritt Island, Viera Wetlands and Lake Okeechobee in Florida

Part 6 on Majestic Whooping Cranes and Many Birds in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida

Part 7 on Sand Hill Cranes and Other Wildlife in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and St. Marks NWR in
Florida

Part 8 on Blue Angels Air Show and Wildlife at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida
One of several River Otters in this Park.

I took a movie clip of four young and very active river otters playing in the pond in this wildlife park as shown in
the following YouTube website:

http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zLx98p65L4&feature=youtu.be
I took a movie clip of these flamingos in action in this wildlife park as shown in the following YouTube
website:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX2AyYvqTZc&feature=youtu.be
Great blue heron
White pelicans
How I use information age technologies to enhance my enjoyment greatly of sightseeing large driving tour loop
of thousands of miles and of one to two weeks in duration covering many Points of Interest is described on my
web page at:

http://
www.shltrip.com/Sightseeing_in_Information_Age.html