The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 96ICHECTUCKNEE SPRINGS STATE PARKColumbia and Suwannee counties2276 acres (910 ha)LOCATION: mostly north of U.S. 98 along both sides of the Ichetucknee River in southeastern SuwanneeCounty and southwestern Columbia County, just upstream of its convergence with the Santa FeRiver.DESCRIPTION: Ichetucknee Springs is a series of first-magnitude springs that discharge 233 milliongallons (880 million liters) per day and that form the short (6 mile; 9.6 km) Ichetucknee River. ThePark receives 200,000 recreationists annually, primarily inner-tubists on the river.OWNERSHIP: Florida Division of Recreation and ParksHABITATS: *upland (“high pine”) forest, *sandhills, *temperate hammock, *riverine, fields, cypressswamp, hardwood swamp, freshwater marshLAND USE: *conservation, *recreationIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of Watch List species; and significant natural habitatsAVIAN DATA: The Park contains a diversity of species, including pine flatwoods–sandhills species andNeotropical migrants. A kestrel nest-box “trail” was established in 1994, and nestlings have beenbanded annually since then.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTS“Southeastern” American Kestrel 200020011994–20018 of 13 nest boxes occupied7 of 13 nest boxes occupied147 birds banded (141(R)(R)(R)nestlings and 6 adults)Bachman's Sparrow 2001 76 territories (R)Wood-warbler diversity Oct 2000 list 32 species (M)Overall diversity Oct 2000 list 170 natives4 exoticsData provided by Sam Cole (Florida Division of Recreation and Parks); kestrels banded with the cooperation ofJohn Smallwood (____)OTHER RESOURCES: Surveys in 1994 documented 629 vascular plant species, including severalsignificant sandhills and “high pine” species. The Park also supports 134 other vertebrate [oranimal?] species. Plants and animals of interest include ♦“Ichetucknee ladies'-trusses” (Spiranthesodorata X S. ovalis), ♦wakerobin (Trillium spp.), ♦King Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum),♦Florida willow (Salix floridana), ♦Ichetucknee silt snail (Cincinnatia mica), ♦mountain mullet(Agonostomus monticola), ♦pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), ♦short-tailed snake (Stilosomaextenuatum), gopher frog, gopher tortoise, Florida mouse, and “Sherman's” fox squirrel. • Manycultural sites occur within the Park, of which the most studied is the Mission de San Martin deTimucua. Ichetucknee Springs was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972.THREATS: *human disturbance, offsite developmentCONSERVATION ISSUES: The Park has an approved management plan. Upland habitats are burned atfrequent intervals to maintain their open characters. • Overuse of the river by inner-tube “riders” hascaused damage to vegetation in the river and along its banks. As a result, the number of inner-tubistswithin the Park now is regulated to protect riverine habitats. • Off-site development may impactwater quality in the river.NOMINATED BY: Sam Cole (Florida Division of Recreation and Parks)WEBSITE: