The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 243PINE ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGELee County602 acres (240 ha) of uplandsLOCATION: in Pine Island Sound in northwestern Lee CountyDESCRIPTION: 17 small keys between Cayo Costa and Pine Island. Four of the islands (Broken Island,Hemp Key, Pine Island Bird Key, and Useppa Bird Key) support or have supported colonial waterbird colonies.OWNERSHIP: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (all islands except Hemp Key) and private owners (HempKey)HABITATS: *mangrove forest, tropical hammock, estuarineLAND USE: *conservation, recreation, private (Hemp Key)IBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of Special Concern species; significant numbers of breedingwading birds; and significant natural habitatsAVIAN DATA: islands in the Refuge support significant breeding populations of colonial water birds.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSBrown Pelican May 198620 Jun 1996848 pairs682 pairs(R)7% (R)Snowy Egret May 198629 Jun 1996145 pairs138 pairs(R)(R)Little Blue Heron May 198629 Jun 199640 pairs96 pairs(R)1% (R)Tricolored Heron May 198629 Jun 1996280 pairs266 pairs(R)(R)Reddish Egret May 198629 Jun 19967 pairs13 pairs(R)3% (R)White Ibis May 198629 Jun 1996558 pairs520 pairs(R)3% (R)Wading birds May 198620 Jun 19962034 pairs1779 pairs(B)(B)Data provided by Rich Paul (Audubon of Florida)OTHER RESOURCES: Hemp Key contains an Indian moundTHREATS: monofilament fishing line, raccoonsCONSERVATION ISSUES: except for Hemp Key, all current rookery islands are posted against humanintrusion. • Monofilament fishing line and raccoons should be removed as necessary.NOMINATED BY: Bill Pranty and Rich Paul (Audubon of Florida)