The sanctuary has a wood stork rookery that is visible from the boardwalk. Past visits had photo opportunities with purple gallinules, egrets, limpkins, barred owls, red shoulder hawks, pileated woodpeckers. Captiva Island Captiva Island sits to the northwest of Sannibel Island which is perhaps more famous for the Ding Darling Wildlife refuge. Captiva Island is accessible only by a thirty-minute water taxi or by airplane. The island s remoteness provide many opportunities for scenic images at sunrise, sunset and along the beautiful white beaches.
Shore birds are accessible at several places on the island.
The island has a population of gopher tortoise that are evident by the huge number of dens all over the island. Reproduction or use in any manner without permission is prohibited.