READ: Manatee County getting flight observation deck near SRQ airportThe nature preserve has become one of Florida's birding destinations. It has recently been designated as part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "They're a collection of county parks, state parks, national wildlife refuges, county parks. "A lot of the state parks, Little Manatee River State Park, Hillsborough River State Park are included … the Apollo Beach Manatee viewing area," said Blunden. For more information about the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, click here.