Birdwatching in Hernando County consists of birds that live here year round, spring and fall neo-tropical migrants, wintering birds and summer nesters.  Spring migration begins in early March and lasts through mid-May.  Fall migration is from August through October. The county has three distinct birdwatching zones:  Coastal Swamp, Gulf Coast Lowlands and Brooksville Ridge. COASTAL SWAMP The Coastal Swamp parallels the Gulf of Mexico and extends inland 4 - 6 miles with tidal marshes.  Much of the area is sparsely populated with few roads  The Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area (along CR 550) has a 1-mile walking trail with three viewing points that allow access to the Weeki Wachee River.

Other viewing sites include Pine Island, Bayou Drive, Bayport Park, Rogers Park, Jenkins Creek Park and Hernando Beach Park.  Hernando Beach is one of the few places in Florida where Budgerigars are regularly found. GULF COASTAL LOWLANDS This disconnected area between the Coastal Swamp and  Brooksville Ridge is mostly palmetto and pine flatwoods with small ponds in grassy sloughs.  The Weeki Wachee Preserve is over 9,000 acres west of US 19. The entrance is 1.1 miles East of the intersection of Shoal Line Blvd. and Osowaw Blvd. 240 species of birds and 77 species of butterflies have been spotted on the Preserve.  Hundreds of herons, egrets, ibis, blackbirds and grackles roost at a lake inside the Preserve.

BROOKSVILLE RIDGE The Brooksville Ridge area occupies most of the county with sandy ridges and numerous depressions and sinks.  Turkey oak, bluejack oak, post oak, scrub live oak and long leaf pine cover the landscape. ►Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area         Two walking trails: Cypress Circle, a 1.5 mile loop through  wetlands, and Wild Turkey Tract, a 3/4 mile loop trail through uplands. ►Croom Tract - Withlacoochee State Forest         Several trails provide access to the Withlacoochee River.  Limpkins and Wood Storks are found here. ►Chinsegut Nature Center         There is a nature trail through turkey oak, longleaf pine and hardwood hammocks circling a prairie.  Red-ehaded Woodpeckers are seen here frequently.                 ►Perry Oldenburg Mitigation Park         A 1.5 mile trail winds through this 385-acre park of sandhills and hardwood hammocks. Located 7 miles North of Brooksville, US Hwy 41 North 4.5 miles to Deer Run Road. Turn east and go 1.5 miles to park entrance.