Brown Pelican

In 1832 John James Audubon, America's prominent naturalist and foremost bird artist, sailed to the Dry Tortugas and spent several days observing and painting some of the over 200 avian species that find their way to the tiny islets each year. He couldn't have picked a better time. It was May, and the birds were nesting.

Audubon's expedition included Dr. Benjamin Strobel, who assisted him during his time In Key West. They arrived on that island May 4, 1832, and sailed to the Dry Tortugas May 10, remaining there until May 16. During his stay he drew many species of birds, including the sooty tern, the brown noddy, and the brown booby. On Bird Key Audubon and his group encountered a crew of eggers from Havana, who gathered the eggs from nests on the Tortugas and sailed with them to the Cuban capital, where they sold them. According to Audubon the eggs "offered excellent eating, and our sailors seldom failed to collect bucketfuls of them daily during our stay at the Tortugas."

Returning to Key West May 16, Audubon and his party remained there until May 22, when they left the Keys, stopping briefly at Indian Key before sailing on to Charleston.

Today the Dry Tortugas are on the main flyway for birds migrating from Cuba and Central America northward to the United States and beyond. The Islets have become a major bird watching site for the hundreds of thousands of birders.