Second Chance island is CLOSED from March 1st through August 31st. Briggs Boardwalk is CLOSED FOR RENOVATION until further notice.
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Rookery Bay
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    Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center | Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
    Environmental Learning Center
    Tuesday – Saturday: 9 am – 4 pm
    Sunday and Monday : Closed
    Address: 300 Tower Rd. Naples, FL 34113
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    Rookery Bay at Sunrise | Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
    Explore Rookery Bay Reserve
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    Boat Tours | Eco Tours | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
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    Explore the unique ecosystem of Rookery Bay with a variety of unique boat tour adventures to choose from!
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    Rookery Bay Kayak Tours | Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
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    Take a tour or rent your own. Home delivery to Marco Island and south Naples or Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park.
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    October-April
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    October-April
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    Moon Walk: Nights in Nature
    October-April
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    Perfect Paint Pairs
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    Nature Journaling
    November-April
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    Forest Bathing Wellness Walk
    January-April
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    Festival of Birds
    January 15-19
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    Bash for the Bay
    February 19, 2026
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    Student Institute for Marine Science
    Year Round
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  • Who We Are
    Friends of Rookery Bay White Logo on Dark Blue Background
    Friends of Rookery Bay
    The Friends of Rookery Bay’s ongoing mission has been to help connect people with southwest Florida’s dynamic coastal environment in support of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
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    Rookery Bay Research Reserve
    Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve stretches across 110,000 acres from Gordon Pass in Naples to the western Everglades of pristine mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters.
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News

Prescribed Fire | News | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
22 Jan
Rookery Bay News

PRESCRIBED BURNS AT ROOKERY BAY LAST WEEK

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar Amy
Over the past week, Rookery Bay Research Reserve conducted three prescribed burns within Reserve boundaries. Prescribed fire helps reso...

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Artist Dora and Sea Turtle Lunch & Learn Presenters | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
14 Jan
Rookery Bay News

GEARING UP FOR SAVE THE SEA TURTLES ART RECEPTION ON JANUARY 31

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar Amy
After last Friday’s successful Sea Turtle Nesting Lunch & Learn, presenters Sarah Norris and Jill Schmid stopped by to visit with f...

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Rookery Bay shark research article in Florida Weekly
02 Jan
News Coverage

Rookery Bay Shark Research Featured in Florida Weekly

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar Amy
Rookery Bay is ringing in 2020 with a front-page story in Florida Weekly featuring our shark research program. The article spotlights R...

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Shark Research Lunch and Learn | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
23 Dec
Rookery Bay News

Big Turn Out for Shark Research Lunch & Learn

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar Amy
A huge crowd was on hand for Rookery Bay’s second Lunch & Learn lecture of the season – Shark Research Beyond Our Boundaries. Shark...

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Festival of Birds in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
16 Dec
Rookery Bay News

Festival of Birds 2020

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
WHAT: Festival of Birds WHEN: January 17-19, 2020 WHERE: Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center 300 Tower Road Naples, FL 34113 ...

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Membership Levels | Friends of Rookery Bay
25 Oct
Field Notes

Memberships on our New Website

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
We are excited to announce our new website launch on October 31, 2019. The goal of our new website its to provide essential information...

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Big Turtle Nesting Numbers in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
01 Jul
Intern Blog

BIG TURTLE NESTING NUMBERS AND LOTS OF OTHER EXCITEMENT FOR TURTLE INTERNS

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
2019 Sea turtle season at Rookery Bay is currently in full swing with a grand total of 68 nests and 43 false crawls for the Cape Romano...

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Coexisting Beach Nesting in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
17 Jun
Field Notes

COEXISTING BEACH NESTING AT ROOKERY BAY – SEA TURTLES AND SHOREBIRDS

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar chandra
Peak nesting season for seabirds, shorebirds and sea turtles is in full swing at Rookery Bay Research Reserve. As different wildlife sp...

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Turtle Nesting Season 2019 in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
28 May
Intern Blog

TURTLE NESTING SEASON 2019 KICKS OFF WITH DOUBLE THE EXCITEMENT

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it's finally here! Sea turtle nesting season has begun! In the early morning hours of ...

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Second Chance Sandbar in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
01 May
News Coverage

SECOND CHANCE SANDBAR CLOSED FOR SUMMER NESTING SEASON

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
NAPLES, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, in collaboration w...

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Breakfast with the Birds in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
15 Apr
Rookery Bay News

ROOKERY BAY TO HOST BREAKFAST WITH THE BIRDS LECTURE SERIES

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
WHAT: Breakfast with the Birds Lecture Series WHEN: May 23, June 27, July 23, Aug. 20 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Rookery Bay Environme...

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Dynamic Wading Birds in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
11 Apr
Field Notes

THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF WADING BIRD BEHAVIOR

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
While Rookery Bay staff are very proud of the shorebirds that call reserve beaches their “winter getaway” or “permanent home,” we are e...

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Hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-4pm
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300 Tower Road Naples, Florida 34113
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IMPORTANT UPDATES

Briggs Boardwalk is closed until further notice due to renovations.

Restricted Icon Dark Blue | Rookery Bay Research Reserve

Camping and Reserve Restrictions

Camping Closures: April 1st – October 31st

  • Areas south of San Marco Road will be closed to camping from April 1st to October 31st due to the presence of nesting sea turtles and shorebirds. These areas will remain open for day use unless otherwise posted. This closure includes:
    • Dickmans Island
    • Kice Island
    • Blind Pass
    • Morgan Beach
    • Cape Romano
    • Gullivan Key
    • Whitehorse Key
    • Hog Key
    • Camp Lulu
  • Portions of the Reserve north of San Marco Road, including Keewaydin Island, will remain open to camping year-round unless otherwise posted.

Second Chance Critical Wildlife Area / “Shell Island”

  • Second Chance (also known as Shell Island) is CLOSED March 1 - August 31, 2026, to protect nesting shorebirds.
  • Camping on Second Chance is closed all year.

The Reserve’s 110,000 acres provide campers with access to one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America. Primitive camping is allowed in designated locations within the reserve.  Review the guidelines and safety tips to ensure your next camping trip is memorable.

  • Primitive camping is allowed in "Designated Areas" marked with [tent icon] on the map above.
  • Designated camping locations north of San Marco Road are open year-round. Designated camping locations south of San Marco Road are open November 1st – March 31st.
  • Permits or reservations are not required. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Visitors found camping in locations that are not designated for this use may be asked to leave by FWC or other law enforcement entity.
  • Camping rules may be different within the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Please visit their website to follow their guidelines - https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ten-thousand-islands/visit-us/activities/camping
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