Wild Bird Sanctuary - Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

Up close and in great sized "flight" cages the numerous rescued birds including owls, hawks, pelicans and other local birds provided our best opportunity for viewing in the keys. So gratified to see the care that is taken in maintaining clean and well constructed holding pens. Easy walking paths extend through a mangrove tunnel to beach area as well. Well worth the suggested donation in a good cause!

This place is fantastic - super easy, wander around yourself. Lots of fun facts about the different birds and how they got there. Make sure you go all the way to the end for a cute little nature walk. Very clean and well taken care of.

This was actually super freaking cute, donation based so no obligation but it feels good to give back to the community that helps wildlife. So many birds and a nice little trail to the back which leads to a serene backdrop of water and some greenery. Legit spent like 45 minutes there learning and feeling good to be around nature. A dope stop to make on the drive down or up!

This place is so nice for injured birds that are unable to stay in the wild. They have spacious cages and are well cared for. We saw owls, hawks, pelicans, seagulls, doves and a variety of other birds. It's a $10 suggested donation, done on an honor system. You leave cash in a donation box.

Amazing! Donation based wild life sanctuary. Beautiful enclosures there to assist disabled and injured birds. They each have a story and its sweet to not along learn about birds in general but also how the specific ones got to be in the sanctuary. Very well taken care of and informative. On route and going further south right off the main road. Totally recommend !

This is a fantastic facility and a great destination to visit. I’ve never seen such well built and spacious enclosures for the birds. They were all so clean and well kept. It’s clear that the staff and volunteers care a great deal about the resident birds, of which there were a great wide range, and it’s a special privilege being able to see these birds so close. I’d really recommend a visit and your donation will be well spent.

This is a genuinely caring rescue center, not just a tourist stop. For many years they’ve been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing wild birds in the Florida Keys, growing from Laura Quinn’s small “bird lady” project into a real wildlife hospital and sanctuary. You can walk along the boardwalk through the mangroves, see pelicans, herons, gulls, owls and raptors, read the stories of the non-releasable residents and sometimes watch a feeding. Admission is officially free, but they suggest about a $10 donation per person

Really enjoyed getting to see all of the birds and read their stories of how they ended up in the sanctuary. The pelicans were especially playful and entertaining. We found it to be worthy of the suggested $10 donation.

I've passed though the Florida Keys more times than I can remember over the past 20 years and I wish I knew how many times my husband made us stop by here. Don't get me wrong, I love it here but my hubby REALLY LOVES THIS PLACE. The care for many birds that cannot survive on their own anymore. Some were hit by cars, some hurt by fishing tackle and hooks, some flew into windows. Generally they care for them (and release if able to rehabilitate). The facility is impressive; lots of very large outdoor cages with plenty of room to move about. All the cages are along this raised boardwalk over mangroves/marsh. At the end of the boardwalk there is a great view of the gulf of mexico. It's free but they do accept donations (but there is no pressure at all to give).

As a current intern at the sanctuary and wild bird hospital, the sanctuary is the place to go if you want to see lots of different bird species! We have turkey vultures, a barn owl, barred owl, great horned owl, eastern screech owls, short-tailed hawks, a Merlin hawk, red-shouldered hawks, broad-winged hawks, a Harris's hawk, songbirds, pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, and royal terns. There's also a gift shop a little further down road at the wild bird hospital if you're looking for cute bird merch!

Nice little stop on the drive to KW. Make sure to bring some cash for your donation. If you're not a fan of spiders, like myself, be careful of all the spider webs above the boardwalks. Some stretched over the walkway. The birds seem very well taken care of. We loved the owls the best. Not a long stop at all, we spent about a half hour here. Worth it though!

We went to the Laura Quinn sanctuary location which is open on weekends and holidays. It was nice to learn about so many bird varieties and each bird's personal history.

There are 2 locations- we went to the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary because the other one was open weekdays only. It's donation based- entry is free, but they suggest a $10 per person donation (cash or Venmo or PayPal or Cash App all accepted) Lots of informative signs. They only keep birds whose injuries/conditions make them unable to live safely in the wild.

This is an amazing center. The birds have big enclosures and signs telling the story of the situation. The volunteers were working hard to keep everything in good shape. The sign is not very big and we passed the entrance and had to turn around. This was my favorite thing on Key Largo and I was happy to donate to them.

Keep them flying Bird sanctuary and hospital healing Sad but encouraging By donation ...hard to find - signage could use help (just like these birds)

Nice small, well maintained bird sanctuary. You enter and explore at your leisure and give donation instead of a set entry fee. And the walk way is shaded. There are stories sharing interesting facts about each type of bird. Wow, are they all so beautiful! Nice way to spend a 30-45 mins.

A beautiful little sanctuary with such a good purpose! Stopped in at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center after reading about it on TimeOut Miami. They had various birds from hawks to owls to small backyard birds as well, each with their own unique story. An absolute wonderful visit, hoping to stop in again soon! While entrance is free, they do ask for donations! Please donate to help keep this program going :)

You can find a wide variety of cool birds here. Each exhibit has a placard with interesting information about the relevant bird. The center takes in birds that would otherwise have died out in the wild (for example, a bird missing one wing), which is very nice. The people running the center seem really excited about taking care of all their birds. They have some pelicans, but they were hidden behind a thick curtain. I think they were repairing something in the exhibit.

This was a great way to spend an hour. Not a huge sanctuary, but lots of beautiful birds to enjoy. The female cardinal was our favorite!! She was SO friendly. She came up to the fence as soon as we walked up, and she chirped at us for attention. We talked to her and she just chirped back. As soon as we started walking, she'd follow us. So adorable. The blue jays too are really friendly and curious. Would definitely come back.

This is a charming stop as you drive through the keys. They have some really cool birds including one that sings beautifully.

I appreciate their dedication and vision to helping rehabilitate and save these birds. They place is a bit quirky but I liked it! There are many birds that I've never seen before. My favorites were the large owls! I also enjoyed reading about the birds and learning why they are being rehabilitated. It is free admission, just walk on through and follow the boardwalk. You're encouraged to donate.

I couldn't tell you how many times I have traveled the Overseas Highway on my way to Key West and have never noticed the sign to this hidden gem. On this day, a serious accident stopped the Overseas Highway dead in it's tracks and we just happened to be right in front of the entrance to the Bird Center; I think fate brought me here because this is my kind of place. Did I mention the Center is "free"? Just in case, yes, it is free to visit. Donations are welcome and they survive on them but in general it is free... From US1 you cannot see into the property, just the rock covered driveway leading to the limited parking (which never appears to fill up)... all the parking leads to the pedestrian entrance to the observation areas. The pedestrian entrance takes you and other guests onto the raised boardwalks (over mangroves and other vegetation) that take you on a tour of various enclosures (large ones, not simple/small cages). In these enclosures are a variety of birds that the Center provides sanctuatary since these birds can no longer survive in the wild. The variety of birds is impressive and for the most part, they are all birds that live in the Florida Keys/South Florida... Owls, eagles, hawks, falcons, kestrels, vultures, pelicans, cormorants, anhingas and so many more. The end of the path leads to an opening to the Gulf of Mexico; amazing views for fantastic photos (or selfies). Also a great spot to watch the sunset. Off the path, near the parking areas is a large home/building; I have no idea if it's used as a home or if its where they do any king of rehabilitation. More importantly, there are a few more enclosures with some song birds and other colorful birds; on my first visit years ago, we met "Pickles"... "Pickles" was a white cockatoo... a bird that can live as long as 60 years but this one is here because his owner didn't have the time for him. The moment we him he was hopping around, making hysterical noises and wouldn't stop playing. It was love at first sight; sadly Pickles passed away and has a gravestone to memorialize him.

Good small fun. You really wouldn't know about this place unless you knew about them which is really sort of a shame. Honestly, used to stay a stone's throw from here in Tavernier every year for about ten or eleven years and never knew about them. You should. Sure, you could do them in 20 minutes or spend half a day, up to you. Lots of interesting birds and a wonderful bayside view worth exploring. Birdie birdie in the sky, why'd you do that in my eye! Honest fun.

The Wild Bird Center in Tavernier is composed of the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary and the Mission Wild Bird Hospital. Right now only the sanctuary is open to the public. They open every day from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center & gift shop at the hospital is currently closed due to COVID precautions. However, the hospital is admitting injured birds. It is a peaceful stroll on the boardwalk. Along the way, you will see many different species of birds: owls, hawks, pelicans, falcons, ospreys, seagulls, etc. Due to their injuries, all the birds living at the sanctuary are unable to return to the wild. The boardwalk leads to a beach. I was not expecting the beach, so it was a pleasant and beautiful surprise. Be sure to check out the Pelican feeding at 8:00 am and 2:30 pm every day. There is no entrance fee; however, they do accept donations. There is a tablet right at the entrance, where you pay whatever you want. The suggested donation is $10. It all goes to help care for the birds. Definitely, it is a great family activity. 5 stars.

Yesterday we stopped in at the Wild Bird Santuary where we got to see a beautiful white/beige owl, a green Parrot, some hawks, and other birds. This sanctuary is under construction but you can still wander around to look at what they have. Parking is free out in front of the sanctuary. There is no entrance fee. They really do need donations so please help them if you can!

We went to the Laura Quinn location. The birds are well taken care of. We loved seeing the variety and reading about each species. I however did not see the review mentioning spiders..... I would never have gone if I knew. I hate spiders. There are tons of webs and spiders along the board walk and most hanging across the path right above your head. We sadly didn't make it through the whole thing as I was too concerned and stressed by the spiders. We made a quick return back to our car. I love the initiative of rehabilitating injured birds, but we won't be back.

Cute little bird rescue, we stopped in and spent about half an hour seeing pelicans, owls, hawks and lots of other local birds along a couple of walkways. I did get quite a few mosquito bites so I'd recommend spraying yourself down before you go. Donations accepted at the gate but it's free to visit.

This place was on my list and I'm glad we went. It was on our way to Key West so it was great. Entrance is free also parking. We got to walk around this place that looks small but it's not. Filled with so many birds with information and a nice pathway to walk through and connect with the birds. The best part was at the end when we reached to the beach and we were able to enjoy that amazing view.

The Wild Bird Center rescues, rehabilitates, and releases 1,000 birds a year. It was created by bird lady Laura Quinn. Laura was a sailor who carved birds for recreation on the boat. When she finally settled in the Keys her interest in birds led her to partner with veterinarian Dr. Robert Foley. Together they worked to rescue birds. As the number of birds who needed help grew so did the need to expand. Laura was able to acquire a 5.5 acre property. Three quarters of an acre were developed into a house and office and rest was left as natural habitat. The center was incorporated in 1988 and the sanctuary opened its doors in 1991. Laura Quinn has since passed on but her work of saving birds is carried on by dedicated staff, volunteers, and interns. I got a chance to visit the center recently on a trip to the Keys. You can visit their injured animals which during my visit included a red shoulder hawk, Comoran, a few owls, and pelicans. You can also see wild birds off the shore of the shore of the salt marsh. The center has the goal of rescuing birds but also wants to educate the public to help prevent injuries in the future. At the entrance to the center you can see a list of the current bird patients. From there you can follow the walkway around to the different enclosures to see the birds recuperating. The center runs entirely on donations. It's free to visit but they need donations to keep doing their wonderful work. I gave money this visit but they also have a wish list of items like dish soap, garbage bags, paper towels, mops, brooms, and freezer bags. I'll bring a few things next time I come. If you love the beautiful birds of Florida you will want to make this center a stop on your next trip to the Keys.

Nice walk to stretch our legs, made a donation to a worthy cause. Go ahead and stop. why not?

I absolutely loved this bird sanctuary in Tavernier. The sanctuary is home to countless non-releasable wild birds that were brought in through the years after experiencing a traumatic accident leaving them incapable of fending for themselves in the wild. You will see from a one-eyed blue jay to a one winged barn owl. Loads of healthy and joyful pelicans swimming in their tiny plastic pool. I enjoyed the boardwalk leading up to the shoreline where if youre lucky, could enjoy those cottoncandy sunsets the keys are famous for. The is open year-round from sunrise till sunset w monetary donations to assist with upkeep for the facilities and wildlife. I highly recommend you taking the timw to visit anytime of day!

What is not love about this hidden FREE gem in the Keys?!?! Donations are asked so do not be cheap. Funds are needed to care for the birds. You go at your own pace so you could be in and out in 10 minutes OR take it all in and enjoy yourself gazing at Gods beautiful creatures for an hour. There is also a beautiful view of the water at the end so do not forget to bring your selfie stick or *gasp* actually camera for stunning photos. The birds love here due to negligence on behalf of people or just misfortune of being hit on the road. Plenty of parking. Dusk to Dawn hours. They have benches so you are able to just watch in peace the beautiful birds.

Nice facility! We went there unscheduled and were able to walk around at our leisure. You can tell they love their animals and so happy to see the good they do. It was very relaxing and nice, donations available to give at front but no pressure from them...meaning bigger tip from me!

A bit disappointing! I may have visited at a bad time or possibly during renovations. I saw a few birds but was hoping for Pelicans. There is a nice walkway around the enclosures to look at the birds. I felt like the enclosures were small and not well maintained. This facility may be funded or supported by donations only so stop in and check it out for yourself. Drop a donation no matter how big or small. Small parking area. Enjoy!

We saw the sign for the wild bird sanctuary as we were driving by, so we stopped to visit and we were very glad we did. This is a fantastic place because they are caring for birds and waterfowl that can no longer survive in the wild due to injury or other circumstances. The boardwalk passes by several large, well-maintained enclosure containing owls, hawks, pelicans, cormorants, gulls, etc. The stories are posted on each enclosure so you can learn about the individual birds. While we were there, a staff member was feeding the birds of prey. (Seeing the dead mice and baby chicks being served may not be suitable for young kids) She clearly cared about the birds and their well-being. She was giving some of the owls a shower with the water hose & they were loving it. This amazing place is definitely worth a visit and a donation!

This is pretty much what I expected: it wasn't enormous, but it wasn't tiny, either. Dozens of different species of very interesting birds of all types, including hawks, ravens, owls, and all manner of really weird sea-birds. We spent a leisurely, enjoyable ~45 minutes here on our way down to Key West. I wouldn't pay a ton of money to stop here, but conveniently, you don't have to - it's real, proper donation-only, where they don't guilt trip you or anything, you can put money in a bucket if you want, or not, nobody's watching (we put in a few bucks, of course). Extra bonus: properly-maintained bathroom, a great thing to find on a long car trip.

Beautiful animals, beautiful experience! The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center is a Keys must-do. It runs on donations (meaning it's free, but donations are super appreciated!), so why not visit?! It's small; your visit will probably take no more than 30-40 minutes. Despite it being small, there are TONS of beautiful birds to be seen here! Truly a gem. You can just walk around on your own and see everything at your own pace. This is where the wounded birds are brought for rehabilitation and care. There's lots to read and learn about. I've been here a few times, the most recent being a couple of months ago. It was just as enjoyable now as an adult, as when my family brought me here as a child. Definitely a Keys must-do!

Such a cute place!!! Owls, hawks, parrots etc, I went at 6:00 pm and there was only a couple other people there so great non busy time to go. Very glad I came here

My kids loved it. A short walk but gives you the opportunity to explain why the birds are there and see them up close!

Such a great little place. I had been here several years ago when my son was little. We came to find the geocache that's here and fell in love. So this weekend I was driving around showing my brother some places he had probably never seen, this was definitely on the agenda. We walked around learning about the birds and how they came to be here. Such sad stories but grateful to the center for taking them in. Walking back to the car and stopped to see if the geocache was still there, sure was. Then I found Flop. I love this bird. A hand raised blue jay. Popped up to say hello!

I'm not sure if this counts as a tourist attraction, but I think anyone who visits will love it. The Laura Quinn Bird Sanctuary is a rehabilitation center for many native marine, upland and estuarine birds. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the different birds, their places in the ecosystem and general behavior. Some of the better behaved (more sociable) birds are even employed as ambassadors for the center. They spread awareness about the dangers wild animals face, especially where there interactions with humans are concerned. I spent my time there with Ian Martin. He was extremely friendly and able to provide answers to every question I could think up. If you are a Wildlife lover, especially of the avian persuasion, you should definitely check this place out.

This place is rescuing birds that have been injured. Interesting visit, that took us about 15 minutes or so. Nice boardwalk that takes you by the the bird enclosures, and leads you out to the ocean. Donations only.

So much fun! Free is always for me. We went to fill the day with some easy activities and were not disappointed! Loved seeing the owls and learning funny facts about vultures.

You have to go a little ways past the moscardón Apple maps tells you to turn. You will see a sign on the side of the road that says bird sanctuary. They have quite a few different birds ranging from owls to hawks/falcons to waterfowl to songbirds. They have a nice boardwalk running along the sides of the cages that allows easy strolling and viewing of the birds. They do not charge an entry fee. They operate off of donations and volunteer work. They have provided a box at the front of the hawk area for you to drop monetary donations in. The birds look well kept and the staff I interacted with were nice and courteous. The boardwalk ends at the waters edge allowing you a nice view of the bay. They also have nice clean restrooms onsite as well. Many of the birds are unreleasable, these have become long time residents and have been given names. It was nice to see the birds moving around and not in a lethargic depressed state. It shows that they are well cared for and looked after. Keep up the great work!

I always thought this was merely a bird rescue and not open to the public, but they are open and have a nice little walk with all of the birds currently rescued or undergoing rehabilitation. Pleasant staff and well worth a visit and donation to assist in their efforts.

Wonderful place to take the family in Key Largo. I can't believe this place doesn't get more hype. It's hard to find low-cost things to do in the area, and this is FREE! Though the do have a spot you can drop donations to support their cause. My kids enjoyed seeing various types of birds including a beautiful green parrot named Fred whom they fell in love with. They also had owls, hawks, pelicans, and various other birds. What we really enjoyed was reading the stories behind how the birds came to be here. It was very interesting. There's lots of beautiful scenery to walk through and you'll see random wildlife throughout such as iguanas. An absolute must do for families in the Upper Keys!

There traffic from Miami to Key West was becoming a nightmare during Christmas break so we decided to take a break and visit the Wild Bird Center. The center is a nice 30-45 min stop to see some owls, hawks, pelicans and more. They are doing great work to help the wildlife. The center is free, so there's really no reason to stop, but of course they take tips. Highly recommend if you have 30 minutes to spare!

We had a nice, relaxing time at the bird sanctuary. The board walk is fun with plenty of different rehabilitated birds to see and we had a chance to watch a great white egret catch a fish in the Florida Bay in front of the sanctuary.

My partner and I came here expecting a pricey tourist trap so we were blown away by the quality of the exhibits and the fact it's FREE. (Be sure to donate to support the mission!) We were especially impressed by the variety of hawks and owls at the center.

Hidden Gem! Great for everyone. They have 2 locations. One is the hospital which is further south. The habitat trail is the north location 93600 State Hwy 5. There's a small trail along the constructed habitats for the birds. At the end of the trail it meets the ocean, where you turn around and walk back. Very clean and free. Donations are accepted of course.

For the first time ever, I'm allowing a Yelp review TAKEOVER by boyfriend Craig, as this stop was mostly for him, being an all-things-aviary lover! "The bird sanctuary on Islamorada was fantastic! What a respectable organization, taking in injured wildlife and either healing them or housing them. During our visit there were at least 4 owls, some songbirds, a couple hawks and others. Each one had a meal right in front of them. It was a treat for me in particular to watch them devour theirs. Their cages were clean, sufficiently large, and well equipped with tree branches. Some of the songbirds has not been raised in wildlife so they were accustomed to human interaction. Beautiful place, beautiful organization!" I will add that it is easy to miss this spot so plug the address into your GPS. Also, admission is free but a donation is suggested. It was a very nice place, but unlike Craig, I do NOT enjoy seeing the birds "devour" their meals. Ew!

We knew that as we were passing through the Keys that we had to stop stop at the wild birds sanctuary. The sanctuary cares for injured, orphaned and rescue birds. The wild bird sancturay is a natural habitat including birds of prey, tropical and sea birds among many other varieties. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center is an oasis for so many beautiful wild birds. I especially loved the owls and parrots. They also have a little walkway behind the bird oasis that has beautiful grounds and views showcasing the scenic waters, Mangroves, and more little birds and ducks walking about. It doesn't cost anything to visit the rehabilitation center, but you can donate in the little donation box up at the front. This is a great stop for all ages. We had a really enjoyable visit here.

A nice little place to stop while visiting Key Largo and the surrounding areas. You will need about 30-45 minutes there at most.

This was such an enjoyable stroll looking at birds. I was so impressed with the lovely enclosures. Plus the information plates were very interesting and helpful. Highly recommend!

Interesting place to stop by and explore of you are driving through the keys. Dress for a hike since you will be walking though mangroves. They had. A cool variety of wild birds - our favorites the owl that could turn its head by 270 degrees and the parrot "Fred" - who can say the phrases "hello" "I am Fred" and "bye bye"

This place is worth a stop if your driving your way into the Keys. Such a GEM!!! I found this place a few years ago before they remodeled. The area where the pelicans by the beach was not there a few years back. As you walk through owls, hawks and just truly breathtaking birds. It was so cool to see different types of owls. We visited this past Sunday and it was about 60 degrees, pretty nice weather for this area. It was a nice walk through for a Sunday morning. It does not even take long to walk throughout the area. But so worth a stop you won't regret it. In the back there is a small sitting area on a beach that is beautiful. Plus it's free but please make sure to donate! This place is beautiful and I'm happy that someone has put something like this together to protect birds that have been injured. Truly lovely.

For a donation you get to roam around a good number of hand made habitats for wounded birds that are no longer safe in the wild. This gives you a chance to see up close some of our finely feathered friends. Nice to do with kids

This is a wonderful, hidden away spot to stop and see some great birds in rehab! The energy here is one of complete humanitarism. The folks here really care about the work they are doing supporting the local wounded bird population. Yes this spot is a dive, but that is what gives this little spot its complete charm! We did kind of a speed tour of the place as it was about 2000 degrees outside the day we visited. So we saw the whole outdoor facility in about 45 minutes, but you could definitely spend an hour or so if you head back into the Wildlife Shop.