J. Lee Vause Park

This small family-friendly park has a well-developed center, that includes restrooms, picnic shelters, and a playground. The park’s woody edges are a haven for birds like Orange-crowned Warbler (winter), Carolina Chickadee, Pileated Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo and American Redstart (migration). A paved trail leads down to a boardwalk, which provides a view of Lake Jackson. Look for a diversity of waterbirds like Wood Duck, Green Heron. Limpkin, Wood Stork and Purple Gallinule (summer). Don’t forget to look up to see flyovers by Ospreys and Bald Eagles, as well as breeding Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Broad-winged Hawks in spring and summer! Winter Wren and Golden-crowned Kinglet have been recorded in December and January, and the site has great potential for attracting wood-warblers, thrushes and tanagers during fall migration; check the large mature oaks around the picnic area. Also in fall, large flowering patches of Florida Tickseed attract resident and migratory butterflies such as Zebra Longwing, Giant Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary and Red-spotted Purple.