The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 215ABC ISLANDSCollier County5 acres (2 ha)LOCATION: near Marco Island in southwestern Collier County [need more information]DESCRIPTION: three small mangrove islands in the Gulf of Mexico. The islands are designated by theFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a Critical Wildlife Area. [any publicvisitation?]OWNERSHIP: State of FloridaHABITAT: *mangrove forestLAND USE: *conservation, recreationIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of Special Concern, FCREPA, and IBA species; significantnumbers of wading birds; and long-term researchAVIAN DATA: The ABC Islands support significant breeding populations of Brown Pelicans and wadingbirds, and also contain a regular roost for Magnificent Frigatebirds and wading birds. Between 1974and 1997, Ted Below conducted 705 dusk roost counts of the islands, and continues to monitor therookery. [Is a bird list available?].SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSBrown Pelican 1983–1998 Mean of 344 nests (range?) 4% (B)Magnificent Frigatebird 1979–1998 Mean of 245 birds (range of 1–5% (N)1447)Great Egret 3 Jun 1999 225 nests 1% (B)Snowy Egret 1983–19983 Jun 1999Mean of 218 nests (range?)224 nests(B)(B)Tricolored Heron 1979–19983 Jun 1999Mean of 853 birds (range?)342 nests(N)(B)White Ibis 1979–1998 Mean of 6202 birds(N)(range of 144–17,562 birds)Glossy Ibis 1979–1998 Mean of 183 birds (range of 0–(N)995 birds)Wading birds 1979–19981983–19983 Jun 1999Mean of 8710 birds (range?)Mean of 1081 nests (range?)1174 nests(N)(B)(B)Long-term research 1974–1997 705 censuses by Ted Below1979–1998 data provided by Ted Below (Audubon of Florida), 1999 data from +Below (1999)OTHER RESOURCES: none known.THREATS: *human disturbance, *monofilament fishing lineCONSERVATION ISSUES: The islands are designated as a Critical Wildlife Area to protect the rookery, butthere is no known management plan and disturbance from boaters and fishermen is severe. Operatorsof tour boats, including 30-passenger airboats, disturb the birds in order to give a “good show;”airboats have actually blown into the rookery to cause the birds to take flight. • Fishermen anchornear shore and often leave fishing line in the mangroves.NOMINATED BY: Ted Below (Audubon of Florida)REFERENCE: +Below, T.H. 1999. Regional nesting report: Southwest coast. Pages 12–13 in SouthFlorida wading bird report (D.E. Gawlik, editor). South Florida Water Management District. WestPalm Beach, FL.