Bird Key (Miami) facts for kids

Bird Key is a small island in Miami, Florida. It's located in Biscayne Bay, which is a large lagoon near the city. You can find it just east of a neighborhood called the Upper Eastside. It's also south of the 79th Street Causeway, which is a road that crosses the bay.

This island is special because it's one of only two islands in the upper part of Biscayne Bay that formed naturally. It's also the only island there that is privately owned and doesn't have anyone living on it.

What is Bird Key?

Bird Key is a small, natural island in Biscayne Bay, Miami. It's unique because it's one of the few islands in the area that wasn't created by people. Even though it's close to a big city, no one lives on Bird Key. It's owned by a private person, which makes it even more unusual.

Home for Birds

Bird Key is a very important place for many different kinds of native birds. They use the island as a "rookery," which is a safe place where birds gather to nest and raise their young. Because it's so important for birds, visiting the island without the owner's permission is not allowed. It's considered trespassing. When people trespass, they can disturb the birds and their nests, which can be very harmful to the bird colony.

A Little History

For a long time, the history of Bird Key was hard to find. Not many people knew about its past. But in 2012, a newspaper called the Miami Herald wrote a special story about Bird Key. This story shared some of its interesting history.

At that time, the island had a lot of trash on it. This trash was a problem for the birds and the environment. Luckily, a group of people helped clean it up. Employees from a place called Pelican Harbor Seabird Station and many volunteers worked together to make the island clean again.

Protecting Bird Key

In April 2024, the owner of Bird Key, Finlay Matheson, decided to sell the island. He put it on the market for $31.5 million. This news worried many people who care about the environment. The reason for their concern is that Miami-Dade County has marked Bird Key as a "residential" area. This means that, with local government approval, houses or other buildings could potentially be built on the island.

As of May 2024, different groups that focus on nature and the environment are working together. They are trying to buy the island. Their goal is to protect Bird Key and make sure it stays a safe home for birds forever. The details of how they plan to do this are still being worked out.