The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 200STARKEY WILDERNESSAnclote River Ranch (2800 acres; 840 ha) and Starkey Wilderness Park (21,799 acres [8719 ha], with18,899 acres [7559 ha] acquired)Pasco County>24,000 acres (>9600 ha), with 21,799 acres (8719 ha) acquiredLOCATION: in west-central Pasco County, bordered by State Road 52 to the north, the Suncoast Parkwayto the east, State Road 54 to the south, and east of County Road 1 to the west.DESCRIPTION: a large, contiguous area of natural habitats between the developed Gulf coast and Tampasuburbs encroaching north into the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes area. At Anclote River Ranch,“Flatwoods Adventures” tours run by the Starkey family present a history of cattle ranching inFlorida, with an emphasis on native flora and fauna. Starkey Wilderness Park contains amagnificent mosaic of habitats and is a regionally significant natural area. Most notable is a largeexpanse of longleaf pine flatwoods that probably is the most impressive remnant in the northernTampa Bay metropolitan area. Prior to public acquisition, the area was a native-range cattle ranch.Extensive areas of fire-maintained flatwoods comprise much of the park’s eastern portion, withconsiderable sand pine scrub in the central portion, and oak forests and cypress swamps along theAnclote and Pithlachascotee rivers, which flow through the park. The Wilderness Park also serves asa wellfield that supplies 12–15 million gallons (45–56 million liters) of water per day to PascoCounty residents. Access by motor vehicle is limited to a 60 acre (24 ha) county park; the WildernessPark is limited to those on foot or bicycle. Starkey Wilderness Park was part of Anclote River Ranchprior to public purchase. Visitation is ____ recreationists annually to the Ranch and ___ to theWilderness Park.OWNERSHIP: Southwest Florida Water Management District (J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park) and J.B.Starkey, Jr. (Anclote River Ranch)HABITATS: Anclote River Ranch: *non-native pasture (1100 acres; 440 ha), *longleaf pine flatwoods(850 acres; 340 ha), *cypress swamp (620 acres; 248 ha), sandhills (50 acres; 20 ha), xeric oak scrub(50 acres; 20 ha), sand pine scrub (50 acres; 20 ha), and lacustrine (80 acres; 32 ha). StarkeyWilderness Park: *longleaf pine flatwoods, *temperate hammock, *sand pine scrub, *cypressswamp, *riverine, sandhills, xeric oak scrub, fields, bayhead, freshwater marsh.LAND USE: Anclote River Ranch: *ecotourism, *grazing, conservation, hunting, timber production.Starkey Wilderness Park: *conservation, *water supply, recreationIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of Watch List species; and significant natural habitatsAVIAN DATA: This IBA lacks significant populations of any listed species but contains large numbers ofother flatwoods species such as Brown-headed Nuthatches and Bachman's Sparrows. A few FloridaScrub-Jay groups occurred at the Wilderness Park until 1999, but now appear to be extirpated. Birddiversity of both sites combined is ___ native species.Starkey Wilderness Park:SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSBrown-headed Nuthatch 3 Jan 1987 50 birds (R)Bachman’s Sparrow 1986–1988 dozens of birds(R)estimatedOverall diversity162 natives2 exoticsData provided by Bill Pranty (Audubon of Florida); nuthatch data were from the 1986 New Port Richey CBC,gathered by Dave Goodwin and Bill Pranty.