The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 98LAKE DISSTONFlagler County1844 acres (736 ha)[As recommended by the IBA Executive Committee, the boundaries of this IBA will be adjusted toinclude upland habitats to protect the Swallow-tailed Kite roosting and breeding areas].LOCATION: in extreme southwestern Flagler County, between the Volusia County line and State Road11, south of County Road 304 and north of the Volusia County line.DESCRIPTION: Lake Disston is a shallow (average depth 8–10 feet; 2.4–3 m) tannic lake that is drainedby Little Haw Creek, which flows north into Crescent Lake. Lake Disston is ringed by a band ofancient cypresses, mostly along the northern end. The lake and creek are part of the St. Johns Riverbasin. Two developments are built along parts of the eastern and southwestern shorelines of the lake,but these do not impact the cypresses. The lake receives an estimated 250 boats and 80 huntersannually.OWNERSHIP: State of FloridaHABITATS: *lacustrine, cypress swampLAND USE: *conservation, recreationIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of FCREPA species; and significant natural habitatsAVIAN DATA: Lake Disston supports significant populations of Swallow-tailed Kites and Ospreys. Thenumber of Osprey nests has been monitored informally in many years since 1967, when 5 nests wereknown. Since that time, numbers have increased significantly, but show a high degree of annualfluctuation; the highest count was 84 nests in 1985.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSWhite Ibis Nov 2001 800 birds (N)Wood Stork 2000200218 nests36 nestsnew rookery;