Joan M. Durante Park birding guide
A 32-acre restored bayfront hammock on Longboat Key with rebuilt mangrove boardwalks and strong spring and fall warbler migration.
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Quick facts
- Where
- 5550 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key, FL 34228 (Longboat Key (north end, Manatee County), Manatee County)
- Hours
- Dawn to dusk. Gates are locked at dusk.
- Fees
- Free.
- Best time
- Early morning in spring and fall migration. Some of the boardwalk is open and unshaded, so it heats up fast.
Overview
Joan M. Durante Park is a 32-acre Town of Longboat Key park on Sarasota Bay, two miles from the north end of the key. The town acquired the former cabin site in the late 1980s and restored it to wetland and coastal hammock forest, planting mangroves, live oak, red cedar, sabal palms, gumbo limbo, and seagrape.
A walking trail of about 1.2 miles mixes shell paths with boardwalks through mangroves and salt marsh. The boardwalks were rebuilt after the 2024 hurricanes and reopened by February 2026, and the gazebo pavilion repairs finished in April 2026. eBirders have reported about 186 species.
Birds to expect by season
Late October and November
In fall migration, look for Black-throated Green and Tennessee Warblers, Northern Parula, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, and Yellow-throated Vireo in the hammock trees, and American Redstart and Prairie, Magnolia, Blackburnian, and Blackpoll Warblers along the mangrove boardwalk.
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Tennessee Warbler
- Northern Parula
- American Redstart
- Prairie Warbler
- Magnolia Warbler
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Summer Tanager
- Yellow-throated Vireo
- Belted Kingfisher
Year-round regulars
- Osprey
- Magnificent Frigatebird
- woodpeckers
- shorebirds
- sandpipers
Spring and summer
Spring migration brings the same warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, and vireos back through the hammock. Check the understory for thrushes such as Veery, Swainson's Thrush, and Wood Thrush.
Where to park
Park in the lot at the main entrance, 5550 Gulf of Mexico Dr, by the pavilion. Durante is a gated park, and the gates are locked at dusk.
Trails and viewing spots
- Hammock trees around the lawn, for migrant warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, and vireos.
- Trails across the lawn to Sarasota Bay, with several bay overlooks; check the understory for thrushes and listen for Belted Kingfishers in the lagoons.
- The mangrove boardwalk, reached by a small bridge, for warblers in migration.
- The open section of boardwalk past the mangroves, for soaring Osprey and Magnificent Frigatebirds.
Tips
- Gates lock at dusk. Don't get your car stuck inside.
- Leashed dogs are welcome.
- Boardwalks can be slippery when wet.
- Restrooms, a playground, and picnic tables are on site.
Accessibility
All trails are crushed shell or synthetic boardwalk. The mangrove boardwalks give some shade; the open section of boardwalk has none.
FAQ
Is Joan M. Durante Park open after the hurricanes?
Yes. The rebuilt boardwalks reopened by February 2026, and the gazebo pavilion repairs were finished in April 2026.
Is Durante Park free?
Yes. Manatee County Audubon lists no admission fee.
When is the best birding at Durante Park?
Spring and fall migration, when warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, and vireos move through the hammock and mangroves.
Are dogs allowed at Durante Park?
Yes, on a leash.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-31. Hours, fees, and closures change, so confirm with the managing agency before you go.