According to eBird.org, 339 species of birds have been reported in St. Johns County in which St. Augustine is located. This guide is meant to help the birding novice identify some of the commonly seen backyard birds in the area. There are guides available that are inclusive of all bird species, but they can be overwhelming. Forty-one species of birds are introduced, with the time of year they can typically be seen in the area, and how they can be attracted to your backyard.
St. Augustine and the surrounding area has a variety of birds in every season. In spring, birds nest and, by summer, the juvenile birds begin to venture out on their own. Some stay in the area, while others migrate to other areas immediately after nesting season. During migration, many species pass through the area on their way south in the fall and north in the spring. Some fall migrants make Florida their destination and spend the winter before departing in the spring. Some birds nest further north and the non-breeding birds of that species may stay here.
The first part of this book contains images and information about selected bird species which newcomers and visitors to the area may not be familiar and want to identify. The birds are grouped into categories of similar species primarily based on a taxonomy used by eBird.org. Each bird species begins with the common name followed by the Latin name. There are pictures of the birds with descriptive text. Included are when and where to see the bird species in the St. Augustine area based on the author's personal experience. The second part identifies how you can attract these birds to your yard. Lastly, there is a list of resources that may be helpful in learning about local birds and an index listing the birds in alphabetical order.
