Birding on Amelia Island
A friendly, dues-free club of birders since 1990.
Amelia Island is situated at the confluence of the Atlantic and Appalachian Flyways. More than 300 species of birds pass through the island or breed here.
The Bird Club was started in 1990 by Carol Wyatt and Earl Colburn in order to observe birds that migrate, reside in or nest in or near the island. The original name of the club was the Nassau County Bird Club. In 2016 Bill George took over the reins from Carol Wyatt and continues to head up the club.
How the club works
The club’s primary purpose is to watch birds during monthly field trips from September through May. There are no dues, and anyone is welcome to attend a field trip. Members are notified about each upcoming trip by email and receive the trip report afterwards.
Typically the club birds locations on or within an hour’s drive of the island. Four locations make the top 100 Florida eBird hotspots: Fort Clinch with 246 species; Big Talbot State Park and Spoonbill Pond with 221 species; Little Talbot State Park with 233 species; and Huguenot Memorial Park with 257 species. The club birds these four hotspots annually, as well as two or three trips with Duval Audubon to top destinations such as Sweetwater Wetlands and the Okefenokee Swamp. Egan’s Greenway, Main Beach and the Plantation are also birded most years.
The Great Florida Birding Trail lists 12 locations for birding in the Gannet cluster that includes Amelia Island. Join us to see species such as the Painted Bunting, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Skimmer and Wood Stork, and to learn more about the great birding spots on and near Amelia Island.
At a glance
- Founded1990, as the Nassau County Bird Club
- Field tripsMonthly, September through May
- DuesNone — the club runs on volunteers
- Who can comeEveryone, from first-timers to 700-species listers
- ContactAmelia Island Bird Club · info@ameliaislandbirdclub.org
Club leadership
Bill George
Bill is an avid birder, as was his predecessor Carol Wyatt; both have seen over 700 species of birds in North America. Bill served as President of the Minnesota Ornithologists for 3 years and on its board for 6 years, and was on the board of Minnesota Audubon for 6 years. He has led field trips in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and served on the Steering Committee of the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas. He became interested in birding when he watched a group of migrating Cape May Warblers in the backyard of his home in New Brighton, Minnesota — the same town where Phoebe Snetsinger, the first person to see more than 8,000 species worldwide, got her start with a Blackburnian Warbler.
KristinH
Kristin plans the club’s programs and socials — including our inaugural winter social, Let It Snowy from January 2026 — and looks after the website, calendar and membership.
NateH
Many of the photographs on this site are by Dan Kossmann, the club’s photographer and graphic designer.