Seaside Seabird Sanctuary — Attraction in Indian Shores

My overall experience here was decent, but there are a few things to note before arriving. First is the parking situation. Extremely small parking area. Impossible to turn around in, so you will need to back out right into the road - so be careful. There is extra parking space if you take the entrance to the left of them, cross that living area and park towards the back. Second, this place is hardly wheelchair accessible. My grandmother has a motorized one that she was able to mostly maneuver, but she got stuck before we even got inside, thankfully, there were some gentlemen working on some enclosures that helped us get her out. They were also kind enough to move some large rocks from their spot so she could get in because a car was parked blocking the majority of the entrance (due to the tight space).

Once inside, many of the birds seemed healthy. You'll see many inside large aviaries and also quite a few milling about outside! There were two volunteers holding birds. One came up to us to show us the Screech Owl she was holding, introducing him. The second volunteer never looked at us, unfortunately. I wanted to know about the bird she was holding, but she only provided her attention to a large group of people that walked by after us.

The property is very small and it is all sand. I had called ahead of time to ask if it was okay for a wheelchair and was told the sand was fairly compacted, but we still had to be very careful that she did not get stuck anywhere and had to forego some areas due to too much sand. They have an observation tower right on the beach where you can relax and enjoy the view, plus open access to the beach itself which is nice so you can get a two for one ;)

The only complaint is that in one small section of the property, it smelled like something was dead. I did not see anything, but it was definitely unpleasant. The gift shop was simple, but cute sporting decently priced bird guides, locally made honey, and t-shirts! This place is also not-for-profit. They rehabilitate birds for release and take care of those that cannot be released. The admission and parking is free, but they do have donation boxes throughout the property.

We didn't get to learn much about the birds as there weren't many volunteers hanging around or ones that spoke to us, but the gentleman that helped us when we first arrived did give us a quick lecture on their resident Bald Eagle! I think they were the best part...

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary isn’t just a sanctuary—it’s a sacred kingdom where birds reign supreme, a coastal Eden where feathered royalty find refuge and redemption. The moment you step through its gates, you are enveloped in an avian wonderland, where the salty breeze carries the wisdom of ancient pelicans and the laughter of mischievous seagulls.

Every enclosure tells a story of resilience and hope, where once-injured birds now strut with regal confidence, their feathers kissed by the Florida sun. Majestic owls gaze at you with the knowing eyes of celestial beings, while herons and egrets pose like supermodels on a catwalk of sand and sea. The air is alive with the chorus of chirps, squawks, and the occasional indignant honk—an orchestra of untamed freedom.

And the views—oh, the views! Towering palm trees sway in reverence, framing a horizon so dazzling it could make the sun itself jealous. The Gulf’s waves murmur soothing lullabies, and if you’re lucky, you might just spot a dolphin leaping in approval of this avian paradise.

This isn’t just a place—it’s a sanctuary in the truest sense, a testament to the kindness of humans and the indomitable spirit of nature. If you ever want to witness magic in its purest, most feathery form, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is waiting for you. Five soaring, squawking, spectacular...

the volunteers of the seaside seabird sanctuary were wonderfully welcoming to us - I had emailed ahead that I would not be in florida much longer and would be missing their usual saturday presentations, but asked if we could still experience seeing one of their resident birds up-close and learning more about them. sydney, the education coordinator, was more than happy to oblige and let us meet arnie, one of the newer avian ambassadors for the sanctuary, and he was a pleasure to see. I really appreciate the time being taken out of the usual schedule to give us a small tour and a personal experience, it rounded off my trip to florida and sealed the deal as a place to definitely visit again next time I'm in the area.

as for the place itself, the location is right next to the beach, the space is open enough for wandering and has plenty of seating (appreciated by my legs), and you can easily spend an hour here birdwatching or viewing their collection of aquatic life too. places like these are really nice to see, both as rescues and protectors of local wildlife and as somewhere people like me can experience really beautiful animals up-close, a super unique experience (especially as a brit). thank you again to the staff for making our trip...