Dry Tortugas Yankee Freedom now offering on-board naturalist

Aug. 25, 2009 - PRLog -- The crew at Best On Key West and the Dry Tortugas Info Center are proud to announce the introduction of professional on-board naturalists on their daily Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson ferry excursions. The on-board naturalist will be available on all Yankee Freedom trips out to the Dry Tortugas and will be able to talk personally with everyone on board regarding the various marine and aerial wildlife that make their home on the Dry Tortugas.

The Dry Tortugas are a preserved wildlife refuge for hundreds of marine species and about 200 birds including many migratory species that make a stop on the Dry Tortugas on their migrations north during the spring and south during the fall. To see the marine species, which include all kinds of tropical reef fish, sting rays, dolphins, lobsters, and sea turtles, Dry Tortugas trips provide guests with snorkeling gear. The Dry Tortugas are known as one of the top Key West snorkeling ( http://www.bestonkeywest.com ) destinations, in part due to the islands' protected status.

The Dry Tortugas ( http://www.drytortugasinfo.com ) are also one of the premier destinations in the country for bird watching. If you come between the months of February and September, for instance, you will see over 100,000 Sooty Terns residing on Bush Key for their mating season. Bush Key is closed to visitors during these months, but a pair of binoculars will give you excellent views of them from the top of Fort Jefferson ( http://www.drytortugasinfo.com ) on neighboring Garden Key.

Other common birds in the Dry Tortugas include Roseate and Bridled Terns, Masked and Brown Boobies, Red-Necked Phalarope, and Red-Footed Boobies. Over 300 species in all have been spotted on the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson. The on-board Dry Tortugas naturalist can provide you with a checklist for the many bird species you will encounter on your trip.

"Having an on-board naturalist really enhances the Dry Tortugas trips for our guests," says Best On Key West and Dry Tortugas reservations agent Denise Scott. "So far everyone has really loved talking to him and leave the trips with a wealth of new information on the Dry Tortugas."

Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson trips also include a 45-minute guided tour of the historic Civil War-era Fort Jefferson. After the guided tour, guests can go on their Key West snorkeling adventures and enjoy a tasty picnic-style lunch. To make reservations and find more information, head to BestOnKeyWest.com or DryTortugasInfo.com.