www.sanibelcoastalhomes.com

There are plenty of flowers on Sanibel Island, though no Birds of Paradise.

Neither are there feathered Birds of Paradise to be found.

But Sanibel Island is the habitat for nearly 240 species of birds, ranging from the tiny beach goers to the large raptors. And, because Sanibel is referred to as a paradise, virtually all its resident birds could be considered “birds of paradise”!

It is not just the variety of birds that live on the island that make it so special, but the sheer numbers of birds that are present every where that makes bird watching so easy.

The Ding Darling Nature preserve is a great place to see almost all the birds that call Sanibel home, but they can be seen in every day activities as well.The sandpipers run freely along the water’s edge on most parts of the Island, and especially so on Bowman’s Beach.Any body of fresh water with a low level will attract the gorgeous spoonbills with their pink finery.

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If it doesn’t feel right for you to take a trip without  Fido, you should know that Sanibel Island is more than welcoming of four legged friends.

There are many options in vacation rentals where your pet will be considered, and often invited.

However, please note that most condos do not allow any pets at all and even many of the cottages and homes that do allow a pet have limitations on breed and weight of dogs. So you do have to ask if your species of pet and size of dog is ok with the owner and/or manager of the property.

In addition, make sure you clarify if there is an additional fee to bring your best buddy. In almost all instances, there will be a pet fee, and most times it is non-refundable. The fee generally ranges from $250 to $400, often contingent on the breed of dog. The fee is used by the owner to do a special clean up on your departure, banishing any tell tale signs that there was a pet in the place.

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