Eco-Tours and On-board Expert Naturalist Available for Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Day Trips

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Information and reservations center for Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson offering daily eco-tours and on-board expert naturalist out to the remote islands of the Dry Tortugas with the 2010 bird watching season starting in mid-February

Key West's leading center for Dry Tortugas information and reservations, the Dry Tortugas Information Center, is offering daily eco-tours aboard two passenger ferries out to the remote islands of the Dry Tortugas. Known for its diverse animal populations, as well as the historic Civil War-era Fort Jefferson, the Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the country's most fascinating nature preserves.

The Dry Tortugas, which given national park status in 1992, is one of the country's most unique natural environments. Made up of a series of remote islands in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, the Dry Tortugas are part of the extensive coral reef system that stretches from the coast of South Florida. They are home to hundreds of unique marine species ranging from tropical reef fish to turtles and stingrays. They are also a stopping point for over 250 different migratory bird species including 10,000 sooty terns that use the island of Bush Key as their yearly mating and nesting grounds.

The Dry Tortugas Information Center offers travelers and Key West visitors two luxury ferries that transport 100 passengers each. Dry Tortugas day trips include breakfast, lunch, a guided tour of Fort Jefferson, and gear for a Key West snorkeling experience off the coast of the Dry Tortugas beaches. The larger ferry also provides guests with an expert on-board naturalist who is available to speak with curious visitors.

The center is now marketing their Dry Tortugas as eco-tours in preparation for the upcoming bird watching season. Guests are encouraged to bring binoculars and study the Dry Tortugas bird checklist to try to see as many different bird species as possible. The naturalist on the islands can also help guests identify birds.

The Key West snorkeling portion of the trip also showcases the islands' distinct ecosystem. Snorkeling allows guests to take a peak into the dense coral reef gardens off the coast of the Dry Tortugas which are teeming with marine life.

Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson day trips sell out regularly, especially during Key West's high season from January through June. Travelers heading to Key West this year who are interested in a Dry Tortugas eco-tour can find out more information or make reservations at DryTortugasInfo.com or by calling the center directly at 1-877-243-2378.