In a message dated 96-01-26 10:46:04 EST, you write:

>Does anyone
>out there know of good birding in the immediate (within 2 hrs drive)
>Orlando area? Thanks for any suggestions.

Wes,

Central Florida is full of lakes many with public access. Friends took us on
a public boat tour of the five lakes in Winter Park(Orlando Suburb) and we
saw significant numbers of birds including Anhingas, Osprey, Bald Eagles,
Red-shouldered hawks many Egret/Heron species, Wood Ducks, four or five
warbler species, in the middle of the residential areas. To the east are
Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island National Refruge which are reasonably well
known.

There is an active Audubon Chapter who run a Raptor Rehab Center just north
of Orlando who could probably provide better information about hotspots
during the time of your wife's visit. I have a number at home and will post
it to you later.

There were some places closer to Orlando on the map but we didn't get to see
them due to the press of business and the fact that we were busy watching
birds on our friends lake in the middle of town.

Mike Waller
WP Zoo