Rock Springs Run State Reserve

This wild, remote, state reserve offers over 100 species of birds. Hike or bike the 17 miles of multi-use trails through sandhills, flatwoods, hammock, scrub and wetlands. Florida Scrub-Jays can be found at the preserve. To add this Florida specialty to your life, state or county list, follow the entrance road to the end of the pavement. Park your vehicle, and head south down the trail; scrub-jays will probably find you before you find them! The best time for scrub-jay viewing is in the morning; these curious birds will generally post a sentinel atop a post or scrub oak to watch for predators. Loggerhead Shrikes typically occur along the property’s northwest boundary, so check the barbed wire fencing. American Woodcocks have been spotted during winter in the swampy area in the southern portion of the reserve. Pastures with wetland depressions in the reserve’s northeast section are good places to look for Wilson’s Snipe in winter. Resident and migratory Sandhill Cranes occur here too; listen for their bugling calls ringing out over the pastures. Butterfly viewing at this site is good all year; look for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Cloudless Sulphur, Red-banded Hairstreak, Variegated Fritillary and Horace’s Duskywing.