The Venice Area Audubon Rookery Reviews

Fun place to photograph birds. Several different species of birds popular to this area. Nice seating areas and good parking.

It's an easy place to see birds nesting on the island in the lake. It was fun to see the birds landing. They fly into the wind and set down almost like an aircraft.

Recently, I spent the morning with 10 photography friends photographing bird life at Venice Rookery. Throughout the winter and spring this park is bountiful in birds, Great Blue Heron, Anhinga, Great Egrets, Little Green Herons and more...many on eggs and with chicks. The Rookery is a small island in the middle of a pond not far from Tamiami Trail. Photographers, bring your longest lens. There are no bathrooms there, only a couple of port-a-potties. For the birder and photographer this can be a great experience.

This was recommended by many people and we were not disappointed. The small island is populated by many birds and their babies. Take your camera to get a good shot.

First visit post Ian and though the rookery island had no resting Egrets or Herons; the grounds were in pretty good shape and there were some nice birds around.

I particularly enjoyed watching a Black-bellied Whistling Duck with a brood of 17 ducklings and an American Kestrel on guard from a dead tree.

Very enjoyable hour all in all.

If birding is in you blood, is a place on. Your bucket list. Bring binoculars and comfort walking shoes as this is fabulous.

The Rookery is a small lake with a small central island packed with many types of local birds. There is a non paved path that goes all around the lake, probably just under a half of a mile around giving multiple view points of the birds. A very peaceful place and a must for bird lovers. We went late morning and saw much activity. The volunteer staff on site said that each evening just before sunset, hundreds of birds flock there to stay overnight. No swimming or fishing allowed. There were binoculars available you borrow free. Nice and low key thing to do.

The Rookery is just a very peaceful place just off of Tamiami Trail (41). It's a small island of nesting birds of many kinds. The area is usually inhabited by people with high end cameras. I loved the quiet and solitude. This is not a playground for the kids. Took our granddaughters and we sat for awhile and watched the birds. Interesting.

Bring your camera and enjoy a variety of nesting birds up front and close. Several different types all nesting on one small island.

We saw Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, White Ibis, Green Herons, and Anhingas. We saw mating rituals as well as babies. The greatest quantity of birds will be seen at sunset when they come to roost.

Sister in law Mary said this place was awesome and shfe was right. A rookery is a place where birds next knoiwng theiy will be safe. In this case, it is a small island near downtown route 41 where the Aligators keep people from bothering the birds.

It is om the property of th Venice Audubon Society. Don’t GPS rookrey, gps audubon. The entrance is on th south side of route 41. Ther is a small sign set back from the road. Then follow the long driveway.

The headquarters building is a great resouce, anda good display of bird artwork.

The Society is staffed with volunteers,

Visit there before 1pm. Then go back an hour before sundown for the best view of the rookery and th excitement of birds of all kinds settling in, bring binoculars and a camera/phone.

And don’t feed the aligators.

The rookery is located off a very busy street in a very congested part of Venice, so we weren't really sure what to expect. However, once you drive off the main road, there's a small park area with a small island where the birds come in every night to nest. Lots of amateur photographers set up their cameras along the water to get what I'm sure are some amazing shots. Get there about an hour before sunset as the birds at first slowly come in and then more and more come in just as dusk falls. It's really amazing to watch and be so close.

Great spot for birding especially in the evening as the birds return to roost. Spotted many species. Remember for binoculars and birding field guide.

Bird lovers and photographers will enjoy this area. Volunteers on hand with binoculars. Nice place to observe nature.

This place draws huge crowds every year during nesting season. I have even seen buses drop off school children to let them watch the birds. The Venice Area Audubon Runs meets in the nearby building where you can also see bird photographs from local photographers, attend classes, or pick up brochures of important information. A nice way to spend the afternoon without it costing you a penny.

Get there about anhour before sunset, and you will see dozens of birds coming onto the island to roost for the night. A number of birds are occupying nests incubating eggs or raising chicks, all of which is a delight to see. Around the shore of the pond, numerous birds are perched waiting to fly to the island. You will see something new and different each time you visit. It is a great place to take visitors; don't miss it!

Can't believe this was our firs time here. It is a lovely quiet area to enjoy the nature . Lots of birds and a great place for picture taking.

What a cool spot! It is a surprising place in a way but then you see what the birds need, a protected spot on a small island where people can't get to them, ditto for predators. A real plus was a local Audubon rep with a spotting scope trained on a blue heron nest so you could see the baby heron. She answered a few questions as well. Take binoculars and a camera that has some reach as you will not be happy with a generic iPhone shot. Go early or at the end of the afternoon when the birds are returning.

Bats houses and the island for birds, waters edge tree branches for turtles to rest on! Great place to have a picnic shaded tables. Meet new people with same interest. Enjoying wildlife~

This is a nice spot just before sunset to bird watch or photograph many of the local birds as they return to their private little protected island at the end of the day! Very relaxing area and many folks come here with their chairs just to watch.

Arrived in the late afternoon (was told this was the best time for bird viewing). Saw mostly herons and an Anhinga. Only stayed about 20min. Saw a few different birds and apparently the bats come out of their houses at dusk.

Spent 6 weeks in Venice staying in a condo right down the road from the Rookery. We went a few times by ourselves and again with our company visiting from NEW York. It was so much fun to see those big birds nesting up close! People were taking pictures and graciously let us look through their high powered lenses ! A volunteer spoke to us about the birds and offered us binoculars. We strolled all around the lake and saw gators and beautiful ducks and huge turtles ! A wonderful experience and FREE!!!! Don't miss the Rookery when you are in Venice! I educated,my daughters on Audubon , too !!

We enjoy taking pictures of the variety of birds at the rookery. We spotted at least 4 varieties and several were nesting on the island in bushes. This is a free attraction and offers benches and information about the birds. An Audubon guide is available.

For Birdwatching and Photography this is a must. It is an easy drive from anywhere in central Florida and the amount of birds is truly amazing.

The best time to visit is early in the morning so the sun is behind you. The activity varies by time of year and nesting season. It would be great if there were more places like this in Florida.

Great place to watch wading birds nesting in the trees in the middle of a large pond. If you're there in March/April/May, there should be lots of nest-building, mating, young birds being fed, etc.
Nice little park - picnic tables, benches along the path. Bring a long lens or binocs and enjoy the show. The birds are relatively close.
You need to be persistent to find it; most maps aren't clear where the entrance to the park is - just go around the big block and you'll figure it out!

We took our teenage grandchildren to the Venice Audubon Rookery and they loved it. We did also and would definitely return with visitors of all ages. Not sure if we just got lucky, but we saw so many birds. The kids took pictures as we were not sure what some of them were. There is no cost and that is amazing. We will certainly return.

If you go before Sunset about an hour to watch the birds in trees in a little Pound you will see many kinds of birds. During daytime also can be found the nesting ones now (end of January)

If you are a bird fan or are just fascinated with seeing birds of all kind flying in to nest and roost, this is a spot for you. The racket made by the many birds is a must to hear. Have recommended this to friends and they are just amazed to see all the different birds in one place.

This is a birding treat for birders and nature photographers with a zoom lens! During March and April there are all kinds of birds nesting on a small island right across a prime viewing spot. There were great white egrets, great blue herons, snowy egrets, anhingas, and other birds in various stages of nesting and rearing their young. Birds were flying to and fro building their nests with their mates, and squawking babies were crying out loudly for parental attention and food! If you are a photographer who enjoys bird photography, this is definitely a must see for you, but bring a long lens, a chair, and your patience to get just the right shot!

To see close-up views of nesting Florida water birds, be sure to visit the Venice Area Audubon Rookery. Located in a non-descript administration area, the setting may be a surprise, but the viewing is spectacular. There is a shaded pavilion with picnic tables to get relief from the sun. Be sure to walk around the entire lake to get close-up views of nesting water birds (in-season) such as Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, and White Ibis. If you are not able to walk long distances, The Rookery is ideal, because you can see a wide variety of birds in a small lake. Admission is free and there is plenty of parking. The Venice Area Audubon Rookery is a perfect spot for bird photography.

Could be the greatest show in Venice! If you love birds and wildlife this could be the highlight of your Winter/Spring visit to the area. From December through summer there are many Great Blue Herons, Anhinga, Great Egrets, Cormorants, and lots of other birds mateing, building nests, lay eggs and raising chick on the island just 75 feet across the pond. I've never seen anything quite so intriguing and beautiful. I love coming one hour before sunset to watch all the nesting birds settle down while an additional 100 or more ibis and herons may join them to overnight. Then just minutes after sunset watch the bats leave the bat houses for a night of insect hunting. This is often a good place to see an alligator too. There are often greaters and docents and some Friday evenings there is a narrated hike around the pond.

Arrived about 40 minutes before sunset and watched the bird settle in for the night. Not a 'bird watcher' but so happy I didn't miss this nightly event.

The rookery was among the highlights of my recent Sarasota/Venice/Naples area visit. Evening (around an hour before sunset) draws a plethora of varying bird life and it is interesting to watch and listen to the various interactions in addition to enjoying the beauty of our feathered friends. The locale in a modest middle class neighborhood adds to the allure.
Well worth checking out.

We tried to go for a visit, however the directions given by google maps never got us there because they don't have something listed right. No one answers the phone, so it was an hour of time wasted trying to find it. Disappointed to say the least.

If you love watching birds in their natural habitat, and especially if you are a photographer, then don't miss the opportunity to visit the Audobon Rookery. I have found one of the best times of the day is in the early evening, when many of the birds are returning to nest.

Wow, this place is like cheating to a bird hunter since they are alright in front of you. The rookery is very interesting and full of multiple types of birds. We watched anhingas carry on conversations with each other, heron lovingly building a nest and all doing it somewhat harmoniously. Babies were also fun to watch as well as the gator that was slowly patrolling the waters.

Did I mention that this place is so interesting? Audubon has a volunteer that gave us some good bird info and they even had a spotting scope setup that you could look through. So many professional photographers there and everyone was so polite.

Amazing out of the way place to see and photograph nesting Florida birds.
We could have spent most of the day here. Early morning is best, though.

What a great place! Bring your binoculars. Hard to believe you can see so many birds in their nests with their babies and some alligators in the middle of a city park.
We had a wonderful time. Great to see all the birds and a bonus getting to see babies in the nests.
Free. Plenty of parking. So glad we went. Would go back. Definitely recommend.

This is a great evening experience. Large birds are abundant. The island offers a very good photo opportunity. Birds are everywhere! Just fun!

I've been a couple of times to the rookery and possibly there are more birds to be seen at different times of the year and time of day, but other than egrets and herons there wasn't a lot of variety. It was a pleasant walk around the lake but nothing spectacular. It is great there is an Audubon office right there on site though and that's worth a star in itself.

This is a wonderful, out of the way, bird rookery that presents multiple species at different times of the year. Bring a camera with a long lens to capture your experience

We got there at 8:30 in the morning. It was very chilly that day and even winter coats did not warm us! But you parked your car and right across the parking lot was the rookery. The rookery is low, not high in the air like the one we have seen other places. It looks like an island and is covered with birds! Since it was a bit cold, some of them were nestled in pretty good. We did see great egrets, little blue herons, anhingas, wood storks, cattle egrets, common gallinule...Even with a little point and shoot camera you could get good shots because the birds were so close. You could walk around the pond, but there wasn't really a path. On a warm day you could spend some time watching them come and go. Did I mention it is free!!!!!

If you love nature, you will love this place. There are many different species of birds to view. The rookery has many opportunities for photography. The natural surroundings are beautiful. There is plenty of parking and a picnic area. Great place to relax or enjoy walking, biking, etc. The love of nature is preserved in this park!

Although this park can be a little difficult to locate via GPS directions, it's really not that far off the beaten path. Located just behind some city municipal buildings in the heart of Venice (just off Tamiami Trail), this amazing little island is home to hundreds of egrets, anhinga birds, & pelicans. These birds seem to know that this place is home & make a beautiful spectacle each night as they come in to roost. Arrive around 7 p.m. and watch them until the sun goes down. My two tips: bring some bug spray if you are in the late spring / summer season & bring a camera with a nice ZOOM lens! It's worth it!

Convenient, compact, does not require a lot of walking to have excellent viewing. Would be a good place to take children and not commit a lot of time.

Our family had a wonderful and exciting time watching the various birds encircle us on their way to their roost on the islands. We had a bonus sighting of an alligator swimming in the pond which we enjoyed watching!!

This is a small area for watching birds. There are a few benches around the pond and some picnic tables under a pavilion. We were there in the evening when the birds were coming back for the night. They are quite vocal. Be on the lookout for alligators. we didn't see any but others that were there said they have seen them there. Make sure you stay until it gets dark to watch the bats leave their boxes. There are lots of them in those boxes! Just a nice quiet place to sit and relax for a bit in the evening.

If you like birds/ bird photography- go here! This is a very small pond with a little island in the middle with more birds on it than I have ever seen in one place at one time. It was awesome. I went at about 9am and stayed for about 45 min. I was actually on my way to the airport to leave Fl when I stopped here, and this was a highlight of the trip. Really cool.

Since I am from Palm Beach County, I think I may be spoiled by what I see at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. The Venice Area Audubon Rookery was slow when I visited with some friends but it was the middle of the day and a time of year when things slow down. There were a few wading birds nesting but not that much of anything else. I would give it another chance at a busier time of year.

Surprisingly close to the main road, this quiet haven for bird life is a pleasant surprise. The downside is that currently there is construction going on on 1 side, which hopefully isn’t deterring birds.

Excellent birds from herons, Ibis, egrits or hawks! There's plenty of parking and room to walk around the pond so you can get various views of the many variety of birds!

First time there. What a good experience there is volunteers to explain the different birds. I also got to see some of the new hatchings so awesome. There are benches all around for relaxing.

Mid to late Feb best time to go. Need a 200 to 500 or 600 mm lens for best photos. Birds flying in and out all the time. Best go early Am for best action. If you are into birding this is a must stop!

This is a very small rookery just off of Tamiami Trail (Route 41) south of Venice. Parking is very convenient and if you go a couple of hours before sunset, you'll see lots of bird action. The few times we've been, there has been a volunteer from the Audubon society answering questions, lending out binoculars as well as letting visitors see the birds up close with a spotting scope.

We visited the rookery one very cool evening in late February. We brought folding chairs and binoculars to watch the birds. There are hundreds of nesting birds on a little island in the pond so close that you can see the fuzzy babies and watch the adults building their nests. We saw Anhingas, herons, egrets and ibises. Truly a beautiful sight. And it is free!!

This is one of favorite places to go and observe the beautiful birds of Florida. The best times that we have gone is in the evening just before sunset when all the birds come back to roost for the evening

While in the area we stopped at this free Audubon Rookery. There was a guide with a telescope to show you the nests of the different birds in the area. There is a small island in a pond where for the past 30 years birds nest and raise their families. We saw Great Blue Herons, Wood Storms, Great Egrets and Anhingas. There were a good number of Snowy Egrets and Glossy Ibises. We saw 2 Sandhill Cranes walking around the pond and several turtles. There was another pond with a fence around it with alligators in it. It was very interesting and I got some great photos. I would go again. There is a Audubon museum also but we will go back to see this later.

This was an absolutely amazing place. At dusk we arrived to see birds, by the hundreds returning to their nests. The next day we came, during the day to see the serious bird watchers.

We arrived just after sunrise in early April and it was perfect timing. Many birds were feeding their young and there was plenty of activity on the little island. Also saw two alligators lurking around. Very much worth the early morning and short drive.

Great location for bird watching. Volunteer had binoculars and telescope for use and very knowledgeable. Small island of birds but worth a quick trip.

great place to see and photograph various species of birds building nests, flying in and out etc. etc.

We've been coming to this delightful rookery for a few years. No matter what season or time of day, you will find birds here. We've visited three times so far this year to watch the courtship behaviors and spectacular breeding plumage. The nests on the tiny island are practically on top of each other, but in spite of all the squawking, everyone gets along. Nesters include great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, and anhingas, and we usually see a green heron and a tricolor heron foraging along the shore. Small warblers flit through the trees and a nearby retention pond usually has huge turtles as well as ducks and sometimes a night heron. The rookery pond often has a gator or two, just to keep it Florida-authentic. You can enjoy the birds by just sitting at the picnic tables in the shade under the shelter, but binoculars or a camera will enhance the experience. They recently added bat houses and at dusk, you can see hundreds of bats pouring out of the houses for their nightly rounds. If you've never been here, you really should visit.

This is easy to find on South Tamiami Trail (Route 41). Many people taking photos. A wide variety of nesting birds.

Lots of birds to watch--egrets, herons, along with waterfowl. Often times folks have lens to share for a better view

Florida “winter” brings many varieties of birds to nest and raise their chicks. They nest on a small island in the middle of a pond. Bring your binoculars and your camera.

Got there an hour before sunset. Just amazing to see a variety of large birds flying in formation and then separately choosing a roost for the night.

Walk around the pond and see smaller birds roosting on tree branches hanging over the water.

As part of a morning spent in Venice, we got here around 930am. It is surprisingly in the middle of the city of Venice. There were around 200-300 birds on a little island in the middle of a small lake, clearly nesting and raising new chicks. There is an Audubon center about 200 yards away, staffed with volunteers and equipped with a washroom. The staff all seem to be volunteers, and they were pleasant and knowledgeable. It was a worthwhile 90 minutes. If we were birders with cameras and a scope, maybe double that. Lastly, IT IS FREE.

Many water birds are nesting here on the island. Many more come back around sunset. Bring chairs and sit at lakeside and watch them.

This Rookery is a popular place that provides us with a great view of Egrets and other birds that enjoy the water. There is a steady stream of birds arriving and departing. There is good seating in a covered area that gives us a good view of the action.

Best during nesting season, but a peaceful oasis anytime. Great at sunset when the birds all fly in for the night. Several bat houses are fun to watch just after sunset when they soar out into the sky. Famous worldwide for photographers.

If you like birds and seeing them build nests and socially interact with each other, this is the place to go.
Not sure what the acreage is, but it is not big. In the middle is a pond of about 2 acres. In the middle of that is an island that is full of small trees and bushes.
In these trees is where the nests and all the birds are. You are only a few yards from the birds, while they do their thing. About any camera (including your phone) that you have will get you pictures that you will cherish for a long time.

In spring this is the place to go to see local waterbirds nesting - closeup! Always lots of photographers getting amazing shots of birds.

The Rookery is gorgeous 💕. There are beautiful birds, sand crane, egret, heron and their offspring. The large alligator 🐊 was on view, basking in the sun ☀ take a picnic, bring your binoculars and watch relax and enjoy nature Close up!!

The little island holds so many nesting birds that it is a wonder it doesn't sink into the pond. As sunset approaches the birds come piling in with barely a squabble. We saw glossy ibis, white ibis, little green heron, common heron, great blue heron, common egret, snowy egret, anhinga and many more. A previous visit in August had no where near as many birds and varieties, winter is best.

We happened in this little known resource. The foolery is behind the Audubon building in Venice. In the center of a leg pond is an island full of cranes, herons and other wading birds, some nesting with their chicks and others soaring majestically on the way two and from the island. You can walk all the way around where you can watch birds preening just feet from you with no apparent fear. It is one of the few remaining places where you can participate in the peace of nature. Well worth the trip and is free.

Great place to photograph FL birds. We did one daytime visit and one evening visit. Of course the lighting was better in the evening. The evening provided lots of birds in flight photo ops. We will return again next year.

Spent an hour or so at the Rookery-many egrets, anhingas, Great Blues...even a big gator !! Lots to watch and great photo ops!! Could use a few more benches out along the walk to sit and observe but fantastic place to sit and watch. Bring your camera and be patient-amazing place!!

We weren't able to go at sunrise or sunset but even mid day we saw a half dozen birds on the island or around the lake. It was a lot smaller area than we had imagined from description. Difficult to find entrance. Parking is at location. My bird app worked well for identifying the birds. It was worth the stop.

We had never before visited in the evening. Arriving about a half hour before sunset, we were entertained by a steady flow of birds coming in for a nighttime roost. Amazing.

Found this by chance when driving around with my sister on the way to Manasota Key. The anhingas were my favorite. The kindest volunteer, a long time birder, was a very knowledgeable source of lots of information about all the birds nesting there.

Maybe a couple of hundred yards off a busy road. A small lake/pond with an island in the middle that (in mid February) was packed with nesting birds, mostly egrets and blue herons. Bring the long focal length lens...I used a 350 mm and wished I had one a bit longer.

This unlikely location, behind the state police station, is home to a small pond with a very bird-friendly island!

Right behind the County admin buildings is this rookery. We found it a great place to see many birds who nest with their young on a small island not far from the shore.

Come just before sunset and see the best bird show in town. Binoculars a must. Be sure to walk around the entire lake to view all the birds nesting. Pavillion available to sit under if it rains.

So very nice to pull up and have someone explain what the different birds are and what could be next. And, he had a telescope to look close at the birds feathers. What a treat.

I suggest you go around 5 PM as all the birds come 'home' for the night. Area is well kept and everyone is friendly and knows so much about the birds and foliage.

Such beauty to be witnessed so close by (I live in Englewood) it's amazing to have this in our own backyard. Towards dusk the people - some loaded with cameras - start arriving to get the best views. Not to be missed!

If you are interested in birds or bats, this is a great place to go. One of those surprising places that seem out of place. If you go at the right time (as we did), you can see Egrets, Herons, Anhingas and other birds nesting. We even saw a couple of Spoonbills. At dusk, the bats emerge from the boxes set up for them. Take a pair of binoculars to make the most of it.

This somewhat difficult to find rookery is a wonderful place to visit especially near dusk. Many species of birds arrive here for the night. Worth the visit. Bring your camera and binoculars.

Just off Us41 near Jacaranda. A place to see birds and take photos, but nothing special about the bird "visitors". You can see the same kinds of birds along the beaches and roadways in the area. It's quiet and you can walk around the pond (short walk). We watched a male bird putting on a mating show for a female. She watched him for about 10 minutes and flew away. So did we.

The Rookery is a small island with some breeding pairs of wading birds. It was interesting to some mating pairs, but it's truly a small area. I think you might get more "bang for your buck" at some place like Ding Darling. Although the rookery was free, we just didn't see loads of birds there. From a wild preservation standpoint, I think the Rookery is wonderful. I hope the folks here keep up the good work.

If you're a serious bird PHOTOGRAPER (like me), you might like to spend a morning or two at the Rookery. I did get some nice shoots, but I wouldn't want to send more than a morning or two here. There just weren't that many birds around during our visit. I didn't find the folks at the Audubon society to be very helpful regarding the numbers of birds present.

It is fascinating to observe the behavior of the herons, egrets, etc. There is a lot of nesting going on and the most adorable babes! There are often volunteers present from the Venice Audubon Society who are informative and lend binoculars for a better view. Picnic tables and a shelter make it perfect for a picnic.

This is a true hidden gem. Couldn't believe how many nesting birds we saw. Many different kinds of birds. We got to see little baby blue herons. Only downer was that the photographers thought they should have all the prime viewing spots since they were taking photos.

Small bird island about a block off a main road. Quite a few bird, in spite of very strong winds, herons and egrets. Parking is available.

Such a beautiful treasure, surrounded by the city. The birds were nesting and doing their mating dances. So fun to watch. The volunteer was extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

If you visit here in the daytime you will see alot of birds nesting with their babies...Blue Herons, Egrets Sooo Cute! Great Photo Opps! Bring those long lenses for your cameras there's even an alligator in the water...Yes a real Alligator! He swims around in the pond that surrounds the island. he likes to expose himself when it's hot, bringing his head and back up out of the ater when he swims!!! Right at sunset I suggest to stay in the pavillion...or wear a hat!!!! This will be approx 6-8pm . Lol!!!! Hundreds to thousands of birds are about to descend on the Island!!! I am not exxagerating! All the birds you see around town, on the island, In Venice anywhere, come here at night to sleep! Black and white Herons, These are Huge birds, Black and white Egrets, Its amazing how they know that the big ones have to go first, so they fit, then the small come in to squeeze n last!!! Theres also an Audubon Society Museum ,I'm not sure if they charge for admission, you would have to chk that out, but the Rookery is free! You can leave a donation if you want to! The do school trips, etc!

This small area is easy to miss but worth finding. A small island in a small lake or pond is the home of countless birds. The island provides a nesting/resting place for a variety of large birds, many of which a fully visible from shore. Bring your binoculars and camera to capture nature at its best.

You have to get there at the right time, just before sunset when the birds come home to roost. We saw the Great Egrets strutting their stuff, doing a mating dance and putting on quite a show. The Great Blue Herons were also there and one even landed near us to just stand and stare into the water.

We were there about 8:30 in the morning. We saw Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, White Ibis and Anhingas and Gallinules. A young alligator was also there. I don't own a camera with a huge zoom, but these birds are quite close for anyone to see. Well, worth a stop there.

This island rookery has great 360-degree viewing. There were a dozen or so photographers on-site when we visited. We saw blue herons and snowy egrets. It's a small, quiet place. Not appropriate for rambunctious children who would disturb the birds and the birders.

if you want to see FL birds then come here. When in season you'll see a great congregation of a variety of birds. Audubon center if it's open is also a treat.

If you're there during the spring, it's loaded with birds and babies.Otherwise, it's just a nice place to see a couple of Great
Blue Herons, Cormorants, etc. Bring your camera.

We visited here looking for exotic birds nesting. The site is very small - a pond with a large bush in the middle holding nests for egrets and herons. There is a walking path around the pond. A small but nice shelter is on site to allow bird watching. Volunteer staff are there to answer questions. Worth a brief visit but not a lot there.

If you love to see birds in a natural environment you will like this place. So many birds nesting here and if you arrive about an hour before sunset you will see many of them flying back in to roost. Good to bring a bird book to help identify and definitely binoculars and a camera.

This rookery was a spectacular experience. We spent over an hour near sunset watching large, beautiful and graceful birds come home to a small island to roost. Every few seconds a huge variety of birds would come in silently for a landing. It was truly magical!!

At the moment (mid-January), there are lots of nesting birds (great egrets, great blue herons, anhingas, etc.). When the action is happening, it’s hard to leave. So good!

We got there at 5pm and the island was full of birds. It was a wonderful sight. We walked the perimeter and met a variety of winged bodies!

Great place to enjoy local birds in natural enviorment. Two small lakes allow nesting areas for the birds,

This is a small island in a small pond
This pond/moat is patrolled by several alligators, probably the reason for the rookeries existence, local predators are deterred or eaten!
The activity increases minute by minute if you come shortly before dusk, as birds flock to their nightly roost and squabble loudly for best spots.

The Rookery is a small island in a lake just behind the Municipal Building in Venice. There is a pavillion and picnic tables. There is a path around the lake so the island can be viewed from any angle. Large numbers of birds arrive in late afternoon/early evening to roost for the night. It is also a nesting place for several species of birds. Viewing and photo opportunities are best done in the early morning or late afternoon. My husband and I have regularly visited the rookery to watch the birds, but usually in the afternoon since we live about 1/2 hour away and neither of us is a morning person. It is fascinating to see the parent feeding their young. It is a great spot to photographically "shoot" the birds and there are lots of photographers around - and a camaraderie as we work. It is a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

You could spend as little as 30 minutes or spend a few hours watching all the wildlife. The best time to visit is early evening as all the birds return to nest or roost.

The variety of bird species is amazing. If you appreciate birds you'll love it.
Lots to see, very secluded and peaceful.

Our visit to the Venice rookery was spectacular. The rookery is a very small island in the the middle of a pond. Birds were tending nests and feeding young. They were showing breeding plummage and mating dances. We saw Great blue heron, Great egrets, Anhinga, ducks, turtles and ghekos. Worth the drive and easy access off of 41.

Hard to believe such a wonderful little place is tucked away so close to the congestion of offices, retail and major roads. Just off Rt. 41 at Jacaranda, drive down and be surprised to encounter a small parking area, a couple covered picnic areas with tables/benches, and then a little island surrounded by water and patrolled by an alligator. The island is absolutely covered by nesting/roosting seabirds of all varieties. This time of year many have babies. The parents fly in to feed them regularly and with either the binoculars you bring or borrow from the Audubon rep make it seem like you're right next to them watching. Amazing so many different birds fit on the small island. Occasionally one will fly over to the edge of the pond so you can get really close for photos. My point and shoot camera has a decent zoom so I've been able to get amazing photos, even for the island activity. Such a peaceful place to enjoy the wildlife - a great break when life gets too busy. Early morning or early evening are best times, but many birds can be seen at any hour of the day.

The Rookery is a great place to see nesting Florida birds. Join the photographers during breeding season to see a nice diversity of Florida's charismatic birds.

A wonderful place to bird watch and to look for the gator in the pond. It is peaceful and in the winter season free of mosquitos. The best time to go is in the evening when the birds fly back to roost on the island in the middle of the pond. Also just before sunset when the colors are taking your breath away. Come often and bring your camera. Very good for older folks with walkers and children in strollers.

At my urging, my extended family and I visited here during our Christmas week visit last year. I wasn't really sure what to expect and I received a few grumbles from the group after we arrived just before sunset. "What are we doing here", the teens asked. "Wait, just wait", I said , hoping something would actually happen. And then it did.

Little by little, then a lot by a lot, the birds came. It was fascinating watching them arrive, seeing them all trying to find a spot.

I'm so glad we went and we'll definitely be back this year. It's interesting and free.

As for the previous reviewer who couldn't find it, I'm not sure why. The map shown on Tripadvisor is correct. Just take annex road to the end. You will see a parking area and a shelter with picnic tables. The small island in the middle of the pond is the rookery.

This is a great place to see a variety birds nesting and roosting on the island in the lake. If you are a bird watcher and visiting the area, don’t miss going there.

This is a beautiful, natural setting for a variety of birds. You want to time your visit according to your interest. They do feed the young all day but naturally early morning or just before dusk is a more active time.
My sister and I went later spring when the weather was good and lots of little ones to keep you entertained, Bring a camera and binoculars.
A nice path around the pond and a few benches to rest or just appreciate your surroundings. Plenty of seating for the whole family to enjoy.

Spent about an hour an a half here around sunset. As the sun was going down, the birds came in fairly decent quantities. We got some great pics. One of the highlights is watching the bats take off for the night. If you are close to the bat houses, they will fly right at your face and pull up at the last second.
Another great highlight was the variety of birds. We saw close to a dozen different birds, several which I am not familure with. We walked around the pond so we could photograph some of the ones on the back of the island as well.

Overall, a great place to visit late in the evening if you are into bird watching and photography.

Excellent place to view Florida birds, Spring is great to view new baby birds. Great place for families and bird watchers.

This local and free site is a great spot to see many native birds in a quiet location. A must see while in Venice.

An unexpected refuge behind the tax collector's. Bring your binoculars or just sit on a bench and watch all the birds from afar. A lovely place with respectful people, helpful volunteers, and amazing birds!

The Venice Area Audubon society has many things to offer those interested in learning more about wildlife in the area. The rookery is close by for nature photographers to enjoy the new hatchlings every year.

My husband and I went for a walk here in December. There were many varieties of bird nesting on the small island in the center of the lake. We walked around the small lake which was placed on one side. Saw more birds back by the trailer park and also the bat houses. It just took 15 minutes to walk around the lake - fun to see all the birds along the way.