Bush Key

Seasonal bird sanctuary reached by a shifting sandbar

InsideDry Tortugas National Park

Overview

Just east of Garden Key and Fort Jefferson, Bush Key is a low, sandy island shaped by wind and tides. A shifting sandbar sometimes links it to Garden Key, letting you walk over when conditions cooperate. Small (roughly a few dozen acres) and less than three feet above sea level, it changes shape after storms. Once called Hog Island—when it supplied food for soldiers and prisoners—it’s now protected primarily for wildlife.

Why it’s special

Bush Key hosts the only significant U.S. breeding colonies of sooty terns and brown noddies. In peak season, tens of thousands of birds pack the island. That’s why it’s closed for nesting most of the year to give seabirds space to breed successfully.

Wildlife

From February through September, the island is a nursery for sooty terns and brown noddies, with frigatebirds, pelicans, and cormorants often in the mix. The beaches also serve as nesting habitat for green and loggerhead sea turtles. Outside nesting season, you’ll still see plenty of seabirds overhead and along the waterline.

Access and rules

When open (typically October–January), you can walk a mellow, roughly 1‑mile shoreline loop. The sandbar connection can appear, disappear, or shift—plan for variability. It’s a strictly protected area: no swimming, no fishing, and no collecting (yes, even shells and coral fragments stay put). There are no facilities of any kind—no water, food, restrooms, or shade structures—so come self‑sufficient.

What you’ll see

Expect sweeping views back to Garden Key and Fort Jefferson, clear shallows, and beaches strewn with natural flotsam like coral fragments. The vibe is quiet and wild—more about birdlife and coastal scenery than lounging or snorkeling.

Best time to visit

Aim for the open window outside nesting season—roughly October through January. Go early or late in the day for softer light and fewer people off the ferry. Always check current conditions; storms and tides can submerge the sandbar or temporarily change access.

Practical tips

Bring plenty of water, sun protection, a camera, and binoculars. Treat the island like the wildlife sanctuary it is: stay on the shoreline, give birds space, and leave everything you find.

Pros

Premier seabird nesting colonies (sooty terns, brown noddies)
Seasonal sandbar walk from Garden Key with a simple 1-mile shoreline loop

Cons

Closed most of the year for nesting (typically Feb–Sep)
No amenities; no swimming or fishing allowed

Tips

Confirm if Bush Key is open before you go; it’s usually closed Feb–Sep.
Ask rangers about the sandbar conditions—tides and recent storms matter.
Pack all water and sun protection; there’s zero shade or services on the island.
Bring binoculars for distant seabirds and keep a respectful buffer from wildlife.
Don’t collect shells or coral; photographing and leaving them in place is required.