Palm Beach County is preparing for a second phase at the Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands, west of Boynton Beach. Plans include a boardwalk, picnic area, playground and pavilion on 63 acres and connected to the current wetlands. Completion is expected in 2025. The orange lines show existing pipes. BELOW RIGHT: A mother bobcat and three cubs have been spotted at Green Cay. Some photos have made it onto Facebook. Rendering and photo provided
By Rich Pollack
Alligators, owls and bobcats, oh my!
No, they’re not at a zoo far away, they’re all here in our backyard at the Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands, tucked into a residential area west of Boynton Beach.
And January marks the beginning of peak season for migratory birds, flocking to the 100-acre preserve to escape the cold weather up North and, in some cases, to make a quick stop and recharge on the way to South America.
“At Green Cay you’re almost guaranteed to see something when you’re there,” says Jo Ann Ricchiuti of South Palm Beach, a wildlife photographer and a frequent visitor to the boardwalk that winds through the wetlands.
Throughout the year, bird watchers can find as many as 100 species — from hawks and great blue herons to least bitterns and ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Then there are the seldom-seen birds that stop by for a few days. Each year is different and even the regulars never know what they’ll see.
“Every once in a while, there will be a rare bird that draws a lot of attention,” says Bobby Seals, Green Cay Nature Center manager.
The rare bird this time was a barred owl, or maybe two, that stayed at Green Cay for a couple of weeks.
Green Cay has also been known to attract the Eastern screech owl, which is smaller and harder to spot.
But the rare birds were overshadowed by the presence of a mother bobcat and three cubs, who had been seen for a few months dashing though the parking lot, snoozing on a berm or hunting for rodents.
“Everybody’s been going nuts over the bobcats,” says Ricchiuti.
Bobcats are migratory and somewhat reclusive. Seals says they had not been seen at the center for a while.
Late afternoon light makes the display plumes on this great blue heron glow, while it stands in water near the boardwalk at Green Cay Wetlands on Dec. 4. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
Best times to visit
For people looking for birds, the best time to visit Green Cay is early in the morning, or later as it’s getting dark, Seals says. This month and next are when visitors are likely to see the most birds.
Not every Green Cay visitor is there to see the birds, however. Some come just to be in a calming natural environment, while others come for a daily walk. It’s also a great place to bring the kids.
“We were there the other day,” Ricchiuti says, “and there were whole families all enjoying nature.”
In addition to the 1.5-mile boardwalk that winds through a variety of habitats — from cypress swamps to hardwood tropical hammocks — Green Cay has an expansive nature center with a variety of displays.
The nature center also holds meetings and environmental presentations, including Science for Seniors.
The next Science for Seniors is 1 p.m. Jan. 21, when a presentation on camouflage in nature is scheduled.
The Feb. 18 program will be about purple martins — frequent visitors. Programs are $5 each.
Major expansion coming
First open to the public in 2005, Green Cay is built on farmland sold to the county by Ted and Trudy Winsberg at a very reduced price. In addition to attracting wildlife and tourists, Green Cay serves as a reclaimed water facility, naturally filtering millions of gallons of water each day.
A new chapter in the evolution of Green Cay is about to begin as Palm Beach County plans a massive $40 million expansion that will include a state-of-the-art water purification facility, making it possible for fishing and kayaking in newly created lakes.
This phase of Green Cay, to be built on 63 acres east of the wetlands, will include a boardwalk, picnic area, playground, shaded fitness area and a pavilion.
Although the current wetlands will remain largely the same, the two phases of Green Cay will be connected. Now in the preliminary stages, phase two of Green Cay is expected to be completed in 2025.
While the expansion will provide new recreational opportunities, it will all have an important positive environmental impact.
“This next phase will combine some of the latest technologies in water reuse coupled with new environmental, recreational and educational opportunities for our community,” said Todd Bonlarron, an assistant Palm Beach County administrator. “The new purification facility will be the first of its kind in the state and provide the highest quality of water to a new 63-acre recreation park.”
For more information about Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands, visit https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Pages/GreenCay.aspx
Captain Willie Howard is taking some time off but will return soon.
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