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TOSOHATCHEE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

TOSOHATCHEE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA AND STATE RESERVE

If you have the time to spend a half day or so in the best of "real" Florida, then visit the Tosohatchee (pronounced Tos-uh-hatch-ee) Wildlife Management Area.

The 28,000 acres of Tosohatchee border 19 miles of the St. Johns river in Central Florida's east Orange County. The goal of the management team is to restore and preserve the reserve in its native habitat. The area is shaped by alternating cycles fire and flood and is a mosiac of marshes, swamps, pine flatwoods and hammocks.

Some of the best birding is along Power Line Road. This unpaved road runs east and west by pine flatwoods, becomes a berm through marsh and eventually ends at the St Johns river. It is not unusual for us to identify over thirty different species of birds from Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker and Eastern Phoebe to raptors such as Bald Eagle, Osprey and American Kestrel and various wading birds and other water fowl.
Starting in late February and lasting through April, look for the several active Osprey nests atop the power line supports along Power Line Road.

If you stay until late in the day, look for Bobwhite along the sandy roads in the pine flatwoods.

There are no facilities at the park. Consider bringing a small shovel, drinking water and insect repellent.

DIRECTIONS

From I95 take exit 79 west about 11 miles to Taylor Creek Rd., turn left (south) at the sign for Tosohatchee Wildlife Reserve and travel about another two miles to the park entrance on the east side of the road. There is a small day-use fee for this park.

Other popular activities at the reserve are:

  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Primitive Backpack Camping -- limited, calling ahead is required
  • Horseback riding (bring your own horse)
  • RV's and off-road vehicles are not permitted

For more information, contact:
Tosohatchee State Reserve
3365 Taylor Creek Rd.
Christmas, FL 32709
Phone: (407) 568-5893

Remember if you've visited the area and have seen some interesting bird and wildlife sights send us an email and we'll pass it along.

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For a more complete listing of birds in the Central Florida area click here:  Central Florida Bird Lists

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