Things to Do

What to do at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary…

Located on 1.5 acres of beachfront property on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida, The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is a Tampa Bay attraction and destination for tourists from all over the world.

Amenities

Stroll through the Sanctuary to view nearly 100 birds on display

Take a leisurely stroll through our 1.5-acre Sanctuary and meet nearly 100 amazing birds who call it home! From soaring pelicans and curious cormorants to wise owls, colorful blue jays, and towering sandhill cranes, there’s a feathered friend around every corner. Learn their stories and discover why these incredible birds are part of our permanent family!

Great Place for Photography Lovers

The Sanctuary isn’t just home to our amazing display birds—wild birds live here too, flying freely and nesting in the trees above! It’s a bird-lover’s paradise, full of opportunities to watch, explore, and even snap photos of these feathered friends in action. Keep your eyes open—you never know who might swoop by next!

Learn about Florida's Native marine environment in the Sanctuary's Eco-discovery center!

Come explore the Sanctuary’s new Environmental Education Center and dive into the world of Florida’s mangrove ecosystem! Meet some of our coolest fish, reptile, and amphibian ambassadors up close, and visit our mangrove nursery to see how we grow real mangrove trees. Adventure and discovery await around every corner!

Enjoy the breathtaking view from the Sanctuary's Observation Tower

Located in the Sanctuary’s Shade Garden, the Osprey Nest Observation Tower offers visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of the Gulf of Mexico. From this special spot, you can watch Florida’s native birds along the beach and enjoy stunning sunsets that paint the sky in brilliant colors—making every visit unforgettable.

Browse our Gift Shop

Visit the sanctuary’s gift shop for an ice-cold glass of water, or to browse the wide variety of merchandise available including t-shirts, hats, educational books, paintings and more!

Visit our online store here

Bird Releases on the Beach

Seaside will periodically conduct public bird releases on the beach just outside of the Sanctuary. Watch as Seaside staff and volunteers release successfully rehabilitated pelicans, gulls, cormorants, and terns. Please follow us on Facebook for updates when a release is scheduled!

Reading with Rufous

It’s story time at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary!
Bring your kids down to the Sanctuary to meet Rufous, the Sanctuary’s resident eastern screech owl, while Amy Nulph, one of the Sanctuary’s Avian Hospital Specialists, reads stories from the “Hello Little Owl” book series, written and illustrated by Mary Uihlein. “Reading with Rufous” is a fun, educational experience for younger kids. Please see our Facebook page for Rufous’ schedule!

Bird of Prey Presentations

Join our volunteer handlers daily from 1–4 PM for exciting Bird of Prey presentations throughout the Sanctuary (when not attending off-site events). Meet our amazing ambassador birds up close and discover fun and fascinating facts about Florida’s native raptors as our friendly volunteers share their stories and knowledge.

Guided Tours & Special Events

Special Events

Seaside often holds special events at the Sanctuary such a photography classes, Painting at Seaside classes, Halloween costume contests, yoga classes, and much more. Please follow us on Facebook for updates on upcoming events and check our event calendar!

Find out more

Book your own Event at the Sanctuary

Want to hold a special event at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary? The Sanctuary is the perfect place to hold weddings and children’s birthday parties right on the beach!

Find out more