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Birding With Kids in Miami-Dade and Broward: Where to Look

South Florida sits on a major migration route, so family birding starts at a boardwalk near you. Five easy spots across Miami-Dade and Broward deliver herons, egrets, and more.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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South Florida sits on a major bird migration route, which means some of the best family birding in the country is close to home. You do not need binoculars and a checklist to begin; you need a boardwalk, some patience, and a curious child. These five spots across Miami-Dade and Broward are the easiest places to start.

Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park

For many families, Anhinga Trail is the perfect first birding walk. It is a flat, mostly level boardwalk through sawgrass marsh near the park's Homestead entrance, less than a mile long, and the wildlife shows up quickly: anhingas, herons, and egrets, often with alligators and purple gallinules in the same view. The dry season, roughly November through April, brings the most activity, and the winter light is gentle.

Shark Valley and the observation tower

Farther up the Tamiami Trail, Shark Valley offers a 15-mile loop you can walk, bike, or ride by tram. The tram tour stops at a 45-foot observation tower with a gradual ramp, so the view is easy for little legs to reach. Expect herons, ibis, wood storks, and plenty of alligators sunning themselves along the water.

Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek

Across the county line, Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek protects 244 acres of urban wilderness with about three miles of trails and more than 120 recorded bird species. The canopy keeps the walk shaded, and painted buntings winter here, a reward for patient young birders.

Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach

Secret Woods in Dania Beach is free and famously family-friendly: about a mile and a half of shaded boardwalk through cypress swamp along the New River, plus a butterfly garden. It is a short, easy loop that suits young children and still delivers herons, woodpeckers, and songbirds.

Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood

In Hollywood, Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park opens a mangrove forest with boardwalks and a five-level observation tower. Great egrets, great blue herons, and ospreys are regulars, and the tower gives children a bird's-eye view of the water. It makes a calm morning outing in the middle of Broward.

Keep it short and make it a habit

The secret to birding with children is to keep the outing short and repeat it. Twenty quiet minutes on a boardwalk beats a long afternoon of waiting. Bring water, sunscreen, and a snack, let the children set the pace, and let the birds do the teaching. A family that birdwatches together learns patience without a lecture.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.