Bird Island

Egret "Bird" Island

News & Articles

Bird Island, located on the Butler Chain of Lakes in Windermere and under the jurisdiction of Orange County, is primarily intended to be a sanctuary for birds and native wildlife.

Due to the number of inquiries we receive about this famous "Bird Island," we have created this page with a variety of news, articles, and documents from multiple sources. Our aim is to answer some of the questions that our residents or visitors might have about Bird Island.

If you have questions about any of the material presented on this page, we encourage you to contact each of the respective sources or the author of the specific article or document for more information.

Chapter 8 is Orange County's Boats & Water Safety Code that outlines enforceable boating rules and regulations to protect the health, safety and general welfare of users of waterways of the County. Chapter 8 ordinance revisions include two distinct phases, as follows:

  • Phase I is complete and is intended to address safety, natural resource and wildlife issues at Egret Island. A new swim area/vessel exclusion (SAVE) zone was designated at Egret Island to address these concerns.

  • Phase II is underway and will bring Chapter 8 up to date with current state statute requirements for existing and proposed boating safety zones throughout the County.

Phase I - Egret Island's SAVE Zone: Know Before You Go!

In order to improve public safety and reduce natural resource and wildlife impacts, a new Swim Area & Vessel Exclusion (SAVE) zone has been created on Egret "Bird" Island on Lake Butler.

If you plan to visit the area, please abide by these SAVE zone requirements:

  • The swim area is designated as a boating-restricted zone for public safety and is marked by buoys.

  • The new requirements prohibit vessels and vessel operations within the designated swim area.

  • A vessel is defined as any type of motorized or non-motorized watercraft.

  • Damaging, altering, moving, mooring, or fastening to the buoys is prohibited.

  • Swimmers should remain in the water and not visit Egret "Bird" Island.

  • For general questions about the SAVE zone, contact Lakes@ocfl.net.

  • To reach the Orange County Sheriff's Office, contact 911 in the case of an emergency and 407-836-HELP for non-emergencies.

Phase II - Building a Better Code

2024 will be an eventful year for Orange County as we make changes to the Boats & Water Safety Ordinance. Here’s what we hope to achieve in Phase II:

  • Add existing and proposed boating safety zones (no wake/idle speed zones)

  • Achieve compliance with FWC Uniform Waterway Marker Permit

  • Delete language preempted by State Statute

  • Avoid inconsistencies with Florida Statute 327


Original article HERE!

Butler Chain of Lakes

Thirteen interconnected lakes in southwest Orange County.

For more information please contact the EPD Staff Liaison:

David J. Hansen, MS

Senior Environmental Specialist

Orange County Environmental Protection Division

3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200

Orlando, FL 32803

Phone: 407-836-1505

Cell: 321-689-8295

david.hansen@ocfl.net

Aug 25, 2023 - WINDERMERE

Due to an Orange County Commission ordinance, boats and jet skis are prohibited from entering the new buoy-marked perimeter, 80 feet from the northwest shore of Bird Island in Windermere. Swimming is still allowed in the immediate offshore area.

Orange County Sheriff's Office  
PO BOX 1440
Orlando, FL. 32802-1440 
(407) 254-7000

EMERGENCY
9-1-1

NON-EMERGENCY
(407) 836-4357

Butler Chain: On bird island

The island at the northeast section of Lake Butler on the Butler Chain of Lakes is known as “Bird Island”.

It is owned by the Audubon Society and is off-limits to the public as it is a bird sanctuary.

The public is not allowed on the island itself but on a nice day on the weekends you will see many boats moored around the west side of the island in the water and enjoying the day in their boats.

The unofficial rule is that if your ankles are wet you are not in violation of the sanctuary rules. You should not be on the island itself. The island is frequently monitored by the local water safety patrol so please abide by the rules.

There seems to be some confusion as to whether you can tie up to the Cypress trees around the island to moor your boat. Cypress trees are protected in Florida so the best plan is to bring two anchors for mooring and don’t tie up to the trees.

Read Original Article HERE.

The controversy of Bird Island

Loud, alcohol-infused parties, illegal Jet Skis, and littering have long turned Egret Island — also known as Bird Island — into the center of much discussion in Windermere.

By Troy Herring | 11:59 a.m. September 2, 2020

Read the article HERE.

Windermere to ask the county to re-address Bird Island

For years, loud, alcohol-infused parties, illegal Jet skis, and littering have turned the island into the center of discussion.

By Annabelle Sikes | 4:00 p.m. April 21, 2022

Read the article HERE.

Orange County approves boating restrictions to prevent large parties on Bird Island


Orange County commissioners approved an ordinance restricting the use of waters surrounding Bird Island following concerns over swimmers, boaters, and wildlife.

Watch the video HERE.