The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 100MATANZAS INLET AND RIVERFort Matanzas National Monument (300 acres; 120 ha), Northeast Florida Blueway Phase IITolomato and Matanzas Rivers FF Project (~15,000 acres; 6000 ha, none acquired), and Statesovereignlands (9985 acres; 3994 ha)St. Johns County24,985 acres (9994 ha), with 300 acres (120 ha) acquired and 9985 acres (3994 ha) of sovereign landsLOCATION: in southeastern St. Johns County, from State Road 312 to Pellicer Creek (the boundarybetween St. Johns and Flagler counties) between the mainland and the barrier islands. Fort MatanzasNational Monument is at the extreme southern end of Anastasia Island in southeastern St. JohnsCounty, along the north side of the Matanzas Inlet. This IBA is contiguous with parts of the NorthernAtlantic Migration Stopover IBA to the north and south.DESCRIPTION: Fort Matanzas National Monument: a national monument with undisturbed coastaldunes surrounding Fort Matanzas. Tolomato and Matanzas Rivers FF Project: an extensive marshand estuarine system running from St. Augustine south for 14 miles (22 km). The entire FF Projectarea encompasses 27,929 acres (11,191 ha), but some of this is north of State Road 312, which marksthe northern boundary of the IBA. A 9000-acre (3600-ha) silvicultural site sought for publicacquisition occupies virtually the entire southern half of the IBA. Matanzas Inlet is a natural inletthat connects the Matanzas River with the Atlantic Ocean. The Inlet is characterized by extensivetidal flats and sandbars, interspersed with natural out-croppings of coquina rock.OWNERSHIP: U.S. National Park Service (Fort Matanzas National Monument), State of Florida(sovereign lands), and private (acreage part of the Northeast Florida Blueway Phase II Tolomato andMatanzas Rivers FF Project)HABITATS: Fort Matanzas National Monument: *coastal strand, maritime hammock, artificial.Tolomato and Matanzas Rivers FF Project: *tidal marsh, *estuarine, *pine plantation, *maritimehammock, sand pine scrub, freshwater marsh, hardwood swamp, riverine.LAND USES: Fort Matanzas National Monument: *conservation, *recreation, *historic preservation.Tolomato and Matanzas Rivers FF Project: *silviculture, *conservation, recreation, private landsunder threat of developmentIBA CATEGORIES: Fort Matanzas National Monument: significant natural habitats. Tolomato andMatanzas Rivers FF Project: significant populations of Endangered species; significant numbers ofshorebirds; and significant natural habitats.AVIAN DATA: this IBA supports a Wood Stork rookery, large numbers of wintering shorebirds and larids,and smaller numbers of breeding larids.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSWood Stork 2 Jun 1999 50–250 pairs Blueway Project;