Planning a Key West Trip

[dragon49]

I need to run down to Key West one of these days to get lifers that aren't in Palm Beach County, which is where I almost exclusively bird.  I don't have it in me to drive back and forth in 1 day, so I'll either stay there 1 or 2 nights.  I need help with two things:

1 - What's the best way to use Ebird to put together a target list?  I know I can query for hotspot names with "Key West" in the string, but there has to be a better way.  Maybe somebody can link me to the best hotspots there, or all of them.

2 - A quick Google search for Hotels in Key West shows pretty high prices.  Any ideas on affordable places to stay of 1 or 2 nights?  Will the prices go down in another month or 2 when all the seasonal people leave the state?  I don't want to wait too long and have to worry about rain. 

[Connor Cochrane]

Set ebird to Monroe county (all the Florida keys are in this county but distribution is similar for birds throughout the keys), then look at target species or needs alerts. For Target species, set birds seen in Monroe County in April that you need for your world life list. 

If you can make time, it's definitely worth using a day and taking the ferry over to the Dry Tortugas. You can probably get more lifers there than throughout the rest of the keys. Peak time there is usually April 10-30.