The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

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The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 250TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGECollier County35,000 acres (14,000 ha)LOCATION: in southwestern Collier County approximately 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Naples, fromU.S. Highway 41 south to the Gulf of Mexico. The western boundary is County Road 92 (except for asmall parcel west of this road) and the eastern boundary is just west of Faka Union Canal. The Refugesurrounds Collier–Seminole State Park on three sides, overlays a portion of Cape Romano–TenThousand Islands State Aquatic Preserve, and is just west of Everglades National Park. Contiguouswith the Big Cypress Swamp Ecosystem IBA to the north and the Rookery Bay National EstuarineResearch Reserve to the west, and near the Everglades National Park IBA to the east and southeast.DESCRIPTION: Encompassing the northern Ten Thousand Islands region of southwest Florida, theRefuge was established in 1996 to protect its unique subtropical estuarine ecosystem and its wildliferesources.OWNERSHIP: U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceHABITATS: *mangrove forest, *tidal marsh, *estuarine, tropical hammock, freshwater marsh, cattailmarsh, sawgrass marsh, riverine, lacustrine, coastal strandLAND USE: *conservation, recreation, huntingIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of Threatened, Special Concern, and FCREPA species;significant numbers of wading birds; complete diversity of mangrove forest species; and significantnatural habitatsAVIAN DATA: The Refuge supports very large numbers of wading birds, and undoubtedly significantnumbers of mangrove-breeding species. “Cuban” Yellow Warblers reach their northwestern-mostrange at the Refuge.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSSnowy Egret 16 Sep 1999 636 birds (N)Tricolored Heron 6 Aug 2000 793 birds (N)White Ibis Jun–Sep 2000 up to 8242 birds 20% (N)Wading birds Aug 2000 10,224 birds (N)Least Tern summer 2000 >125 birds 1% (N)Royal Tern 5 May 2000 190 birds 1% (N)Mangrove Cuckoo 7–26 May 2000 64 birds (B)Black-whiskered Vireo 7–26 May 2000 103 birds (B)“Florida” Prairie Warbler 7–26 May 2000 53 birds (B)Overall diversity since 1996 187 natives5 exoticsData provided by Terry Doyle (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)OTHER RESOURCES: The Refuge is part of a larger Ten Thousand Islands system, which is one of thelargest and most pristine mangrove systems in the Western Hemisphere. +Odum and McIvor (1990)refer to the region as “part of the most significant wilderness area” in Florida. The Refuge supportsseveral Endangered and Threatened species, including the Florida manatee. • The Calusa Indianswere known to inhabit the region in the 17 th century, and were present when the Spaniards exploredthe area. Indian artifacts have been found throughout the Refuge, primarily in the hardwoodhammocks.THREATS: *altered hydrology, exotic plantsCONSERVATION ISSUES: Perhaps the most significant short- and long-term impact to the Refuge is theSouth Golden Gate Estates (SGGE) Restoration Project. The SGGE is an area of about 60,000 acres(24,000 ha) that is part of the bankrupt Gulf of America Corporation's (GAC) massive planned
The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 251development. From 1968 through 1971, GAC excavated a series of canals that drastically drained thearea and changed its ecology. Prior to development, the area was characterized by seasonal floodingand broad, slow-moving sheet flow that served as the headwaters of the Ten Thousand Islandssystem. Today, 40 miles (64 km) of canals intercept large volumes of surface and groundwater flowand quickly divert them into Faka Union Bay, thus over-draining the area and damaging the ecologyof the bay. The State now is buying back hundreds of 5-, 10-, and 20-acre (2-, 4-, and 8-ha) lots tocreate Picayune Strand State Forest. The South Florida Water Management District's “HydrologicRestoration of Southern Golden Gate Estates Conceptual Plan” proposes to restore the hydrology andsheet water flow to the SGGE area by blocking canals, removing roads, and pumping water out ofcanals. The plan cannot begin all the private lots are purchased or condemned. • Several invasiveexotic plants occur on the Refuge, including Brazilian pepper, Australian-pine, and latherleaf. Theyare controlled as needed. • A variety of recreational and commercial uses (e.g., commercial and sportfishing, crabbing, and waterfowl hunting) occur on the Refuge, which may create excessive humandisturbance. Ecotourism includes canoe camping trips, boat cruises, and shelling trips. • TenThousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge has an approved Comprehensive Conservation Plan thatprovides the framework for management for the next 15 years. Included within the Plan are severalproposed reductions to address some of the above concerns.NOMINATED BY: Terry Doyle (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)REFERENCE: +Odum, W.E., and C.C. McIvor. 1990. Mangroves. Pages 517–548 in Ecosystems ofFlorida (R.L. Myers and J.J. Ewel, editors). University of Central Florida Press. Orlando, FL.WEBSITE:
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MemorandumBill Pranty, Florida IBA
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The Important Bird Areas of Florida
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