Start of the Wild Birds Unlimited Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
See the Hiking Trails web page for an interactive location map.
Length: .5 mile, round trip
Time: 20 minutes, plus bird watching time
Difficulty: Easy
The Wild Birds Unlimited Trail is located about two miles from the start of the Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and is one of two trails that can only be accessed by driving this road. When you first see the trailhead you will find NO PARKING signs near it. The parking area is actually a little farther down the road and around the corner.
The trail is a half mile out-and-back and passes between two ponds while running along the top of one of the many dikes in the area. The dikes were built to control the Salt Marsh mosquito population. Salt Marsh mosquitoes lays eggs in the mud, so flooding the area during breeding season would prevent them from doing so.
The Wild Birds Unlimited Trail is as straight as an arrow and completely exposed to the sun. There is an observation deck very close to the start on the right-hand side and another at the very end that overlooks the left side of the dike. Both are built like duck blinds so that you can view the birds without them seeing you, and both have a free spotting scope.
First observation deck on the Wild Birds Unlimited Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Blinds and spotting scope of the second observation deck on the Wild Birds Unlimited Trail
Round trip with a few short stops takes about 20 minutes, though how long you want to spend watching the birds is up to you. I was able to get much closer to the birds here than I was at any point along the Black Point Wildlife Drive. Thus, the Wild Birds Unlimited Trail is a “must” for bird watchers and photographers. I still recommend binoculars for bird watchers and at least a 400mm lens for photographers.
Ibis at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Coot at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Coot diving for food
Lesser Yellowlegs at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Striated heron at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Blue-winged Teals at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Great Southern White Butterfly at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on April 22, 2022
