The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 141CRYSTAL RIVER TIDAL MARSHESCrystal River State Buffer Preserve (36,000 acres; 14,400 ha) and St. Martins Marsh AquaticPreserve (23,123 acres; 9249 ha, mostly submerged)Citrus County59,123 acres (23,649 ha)LOCATION: in western Citrus County, encompassing most of the area west of U.S. Highway 19 betweenthe Withlacoochee River and Homosassa Springs. Contiguous with the Chassahowitzka–Weekiwachee IBA to the south, and near the Citrus County Spoil Islands IBA to the north.DESCRIPTION: This IBA encompasses an area of extensive tidal marshes that, together with theChassahowitzka–Weekiwachee IBA, preserves nearly the entire coastlines of Citrus and Hernandocounties. _____ The Buffer Preserve receives ____ recreationists annually, while the AquaticPreserve receives ____ recreationists.OWNERSHIP: Florida Division of Marine ResourcesHABITATS: *temperate hammock, *hardwood swamp, *slash pine plantation, *tidal marsh, *estuarine,pine flatwoods, xeric oak scrub, fields, bayhead, mangrove forest, freshwater marsh, sawgrass marsh,riverine, lacustrineLAND USE: *conservation, recreationIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of Threatened species; complete diversity of tidal marshes;and significant natural habitatsAVIAN DATA: Extensive tidal marshes probably support significant populations of Clapper Rails, MarshWrens, and Seaside Sparrows, and may also support a large population of Black Rails. A plan tointroduce a migratory population of Whooping Cranes, which will winter in the area, began inDecember 2001. Studies of food availability for the cranes were conducted at the Aquatic Preserve.Quarterly bird monitoring has been conducted since October 1996 and is scheduled to be continued“for years,” as it is part of the Management Plan. Surveys are 30 point-count stations in foresteduplands.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSBrown Pelican 1995–1996 >100 nests 1% (B)Bald Eagle 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 10 nests 1% (B)Black Rail 5 Apr 1998 2 birds (R)Overall diversity 1996–2001 95 natives1 exoticPelican data and checklist provided by Seth Blitch (Florida Department of Environmental Protection), eagle GIScoverage provided by Julia Dodge (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), and rail data provided byClay Black (Southwest Florida Water Management District); see also +Pranty et al. (in prep.)OTHER RESOURCES: The Aquatic Preserve is an Outstanding Florida Water. • 232 cultural sites havebeen identified, which are spread around one of the largest and most southern ceremonial burialgrounds of the Mississippian culture.THREATS: exotic plants, feral hogsCONSERVATION ISSUES: Restoration of 1100 acres (440 ha) of slash pine plantation to longleaf pineflatwoods is underway. Prescribed fire and selected timbering have reduced the canopy cover.Longleaf pine and threeawn will be replanted where appropriate. • A comprehensive monitoringprogram is in place. Prescribed burning is used in all fire-dependent habitats. • Exotic plants, mostlyBrazilian pepper and cogongrass, are actively controlled. • The Management Plan is revised everyfive years, and both sites are managed by DEP. • Hunting is prohibited and logging is solely forrestoration purposes. • A few groups of Florida Scrub-Jays occur in recently-purchased scrub just