Green Cay Wetlands Nature Preserve - Boynton Beach - 1.5 Miles Round-Trip

A mini-Everglades can be found right in Palm Beach County - The Green Cay Wetlands Preserve and Nature Center is located in Boynton Beach, Florida and is easily reached from I-95 or the Florida Turnpike.

For over 40 years, Ted and Trudy Winsberg grew vegetables from their Green Cay Farm. Rather than see their beautiful land fall prey to large-scale commercial development, the family created the Green Cay Wetlands. Their love of nature and supreme generosity resulted in the preservation of 100 acres of pristine Florida wetlands. The land has now been restored to its pre-farm condition and provides an oasis for animals and people alike.

From the Green Cay Nature Center, a series of raised boardwalks leads visitors through a diverse set of sub-tropical habitats. In an environment where mere inches can dictate great ecological change, Green Cay plays home to a wide variety of beautiful flora and fauna.

The preserve can be split into 4 general zones:

Deep Zones: Open water pond areas that attract waterfowl and diving birds, with an average water depth of 4 feet.

Freshwater Marshes: Emergent marsh areas which are home to moorhens, sparrows and rails. Average water depth is between 6" - 8".

Higher Elevations: Forested wetlands available for long-term habitat development. Elevations can be up to 6 feet above the waterline.

Tree Islands: Islands with shrubs, trees and bushes used for birds to nest. Average elevation is around 1 foot above the waterline.

Along the boardwalk, visitors can stop and read interpretive signs or relax under a chickee hut which were built in traditional Seminole fashion from cypress logs and cabbage palm branches.

Due to the diversity of habitat, Green Cay is rife with wildlife and is a birders paradise. Birds at the wetlands include a wide variety of Egrets, Herons, Grebes, Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Owls, Nighthawks, Hummingbirds, Warblers, Gulls, Wrens, Swallows, Jays, Crows, Blackbirds, Tangers, Grosbeaks and many more. Keen eyes and a pair of binoculars are must-haves when meandering through Green Cay.

In addition to birds, visitors can look forward to seeing various species of turtles including the Florida Red-bellied Turtle or the Peninsular Cooter. Alligators can also be commonly seen in deeper waters of Green Cay and the fortunate few may catch a glimpse of a bobcat, snake or one of the various frog species.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Nature Center and chat with a naturalist prior to setting out. To enrich your experience, it is highly recommended to purchase a bird or animal identification pamphlet to enable you to identify the birds or animals you might see while at Green Cay.

There is no set route at Green Cay, so it is up to the visitor to walk along the boardwalks at their leisure.