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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    Nature Collage
    October-April
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    Moon Walk: Nights in Nature
    October-April
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    Perfect Paint Pairs
    October-April
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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
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    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

Celebrating 40 Years in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
07 Mar
News Coverage

ROOKERY BAY RESEARCH RESERVE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS WITH DOCUMENTARY FILM

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar rgbadmin
NAPLES, Fla. – Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the production of a full-length...

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Governor DeSantis Announcement in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
30 Jan
News Coverage

GOVERNOR DESANTIS MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT AT ROOKERY BAY

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
In the short clip below, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared his vision for the future of water management in southwest Florida at wit...

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Prescribed Burns in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
16 Jan
News Coverage

PRESCRIBED BURNS PLANNED FOR NEAR EAST NAPLES 2019

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
NAPLES, Fla. – Resource management staff at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve have released plans for their first prescri...

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Coastal Inundation in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
07 Jan
News Coverage

COASTAL INUNDATION MAPPING COURSE

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
What: Coastal Inundation Mapping Course When: July 23-24, 2019 Where: Florida Gulf Coast University, Seidler Hall 10501 FGCU Blv...

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Studying Sharks in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
03 Jan
Field Notes

STUDYING THE SECRETS OF SHARK SURVIVAL

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
On May 22, my last evening of sampling for May in Fakahatchee Bay, we caught only one shark, but that small neonate (newborn) bull shar...

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Tracing Origins of a Banded Knot in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
05 Dec
Field Notes

TRACING THE ORIGINS OF A BANDED RED KNOT

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
Last month, our avian team noticed a Red Knot on Keewaydin Island with a colored/numbered flag on its leg. Using a zoom lens, photos ta...

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Sea Turtle Hatching in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
21 Nov
News Coverage

RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF SEA TURTLE HATCHLINGS EMERGED FROM CAPE ROMANO COMPLEX IN 2018

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
NAPLES, Fla. – Florida Department of Environmental Protection staff, interns and volunteers at Rookery Bay Research Reserve recently co...

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Twice a Month Lecture Series in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
29 Oct
News Coverage

ROOKERY BAY TO HOST TWICE-MONTHLY BIRDING WORKSHOPS

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
WHAT: Birding Basics & Birds of the Beach Workshops WHEN: Birding Basics: Nov. 9, Dec. 21, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 8 and April 12...

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Magnificent Frigatebird in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
12 Oct
Field Notes

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD RESCUED

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
Over the past week, our avian team has observed magnificent frigatebirds roosting at the ABC Islands Critical Wildlife Area. While they...

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08 Oct
News Coverage

LUNCH & LEARN LECTURE SERIES SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON ROOKERY BAY RESEARCH RESERVE HISTORY

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
What: Lunch & Learn Lecture Series: Rookery Bay Through Their Eyes When: Monthly (Noon-1pm), November 2018 through April 2019 Whe...

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Sea Turtle, Sharks and Skimmers in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
01 Sep
Intern Blog

SEA TURTLES, SHARKS AND SKIMMERS: ALL PART OF A SUMMER INTERN’S WORK

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
Working at Rookery Bay Research Reserve has been quite an experience! In addition to the everyday adventures of turtle patrol, I've bee...

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Red Cage Fungus in Naples | Rookery Bay Research Reserve
31 Aug
Stewardship

RED CAGE FUNGUS

  • June 2, 2025
  • By author-avatar info@rookerybay.org
What the heck is that? It isn't necessarily associated with the estuary, but we've seen this interesting fungus on the grounds near our...

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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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