Explore Nature at the Seashore

Pensacola and Perdido Key beaches stretch through miles of unspoiled shoreline, making it easy to spot the unique wildlife that calls the Gulf Coast home. You don’t have to be a bird lover to thrill at the osprey and Great Bald Eagles circling and diving after fish. But be sure to keep your eyes to the sky for tiny state-protected least terns defending their nests in spring and summer, black skimmers, Wilson’s plovers, brown pelicans, herons and more. And while you’re strolling those sugar-white sand beaches, watch for tracks made by the elusive sea turtles who nest on our shores. Loggerhead, Green and Kemp’s Ridley— and on rare occasions even the massive Leatherback sea turtle — crawl ashore here in the darkness. If you spot signs of a turtle crawl — or especially a disoriented turtle — contact Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Our Favorite Spots

Gulf Islands National Seashore boasts the largest concentration of nesting sea turtles and shore birds.
Perdido Key, particularly Perdido Key State Park, Big Lagoon State Park and Johnson Beach harbor rare native wildlife.

Audubon volunteers at Fort Pickens often hold workshops and tours teaching about shorebirds, and how to help protect them.
The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, includes 10 sites in the Pensacola Bay Area.