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The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Important</strong> <strong>Bird</strong> <strong>Areas</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 210WILLIAM BEARDALL TOSOHATCHEE STATE RESERVEBrevard and Orange counties30,691 acres (12,276 ha)LOCATION: in extreme eastern Orange County and a small part <strong>of</strong> western Brevard County, mostly west<strong>of</strong> the St. Johns River between State Road 50 and the Osceola County line. Contiguous with parts <strong>of</strong>the Upper St. Johns River Basin IBA to the north and south, and near one parcel <strong>of</strong> the St. Johns<strong>National</strong> Wildlife Refuge IBA to the eastDESCRIPTION: A large parcel <strong>of</strong> flatwoods, hammocks, and marshes along the west side <strong>of</strong> the St. JohnsRiver. Formerly a cattle ranch, the property was purchased by the State in 1977 to protect its aquaticresources. <strong>The</strong> Reserve receives ____ recreationists and ____ hunters annually.OWNERSHIP: <strong>Florida</strong> Division <strong>of</strong> Recreation and ParksHABITATS: *slash pine flatwoods, *temperate hammock, *cypress swamp, *tidal marsh, *riverine,bayhead, cattail marsh, sawgrass marsh, lacustrineLAND USE: *conservation, recreation, huntingIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations <strong>of</strong> Threatened and Special Concern species; significantnumbers <strong>of</strong> wading birds; and significant natural habitatsAVIAN DATA: <strong>The</strong> Reserve supports large numbers <strong>of</strong> foraging wading birds, and species <strong>of</strong> slash pineflatwoods. Red-cockaded Woodpeckers formerly occurred, and reintroduction may be an option inthe future. A MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survival) station is established at theReserve.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSGreat Egret Jun 1996 291 birds (N)Snowy Egret Apr 1999 199 birds (N)Little Blue Heron Mar 1996 222 birds (N)Tricolored Heron Aug 1996 162 birds (N)White Ibis Feb 1996 2823 birds (N)Wading birds Feb 1996 3506 birds (N)Crested Caracara Annual 1–2 pairs 1% (R)Black Skimmer May 1996 107 birds (N)Red-cockaded Woodpecker Mar 1979 1 bird Extirpated; last known reportSummer Tanager Apr 1996 22 birds (B)Overall diversity undated list 182 natives2 exoticsData from surveys conducted by Tosohatchee staff and volunteers, mostly from Orange <strong>Audubon</strong> <strong>Society</strong>, providedby Shane Belson (<strong>Florida</strong> Division <strong>of</strong> Recreation and Parks)OTHER RESOURCES: <strong>The</strong> Reserve contains 15 distinct natural communities. Most significant <strong>of</strong> these arethe St. Johns River, which runs for 19 miles (30 km) along the Reserve's eastern boundary, and theTootoosahatchee, Jim, and Taylor creek systems that cross the Reserve and empty into the river.THREATS: development, human disturbance, exotic plants, cowbird brood parasitismCONSERVATION ISSUES: <strong>The</strong> management plan emphasizes managing natural communities, rather thanmanaging for individual species. Measures are implemented to mimic the historic natural processesand conditions to the greatest extent possible. <strong>The</strong> goal is to restore and maintain habitats in theiroriginal condition, especially with prescribed fire. Since public acquisition, 14 miles (22 km) <strong>of</strong>canals have been back-filled, which has restored 6000 acres (2400 ha) <strong>of</strong> drained grazing land backinto wetlands. • Exotic plants are controlled as needed.NOMINATED BY: Shane Belson (<strong>Florida</strong> Division <strong>of</strong> Recreation and Parks)WEBSITE:

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