The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 91GUANA RIVERGuana River State Park (2397 acres; 958 ha) and Guana River Wildlife Management Area (9815acres; 3926 ha)St. Johns County12,212 acres (4884 ha)LOCATION: on the barrier island between the Tolomato River (Intracoastal Waterway) and the AtlanticOcean in northeastern St. Johns County, bordered on the north by State Road 210.DESCRIPTION: Two adjacent public ownerships purchased in 1984 that protect a large area of coastalhabitats. The State Park occupies the southern quarter of the property (north to Guana dam), whileGuana River Wildlife Management Area occupies the northern three-quarters of the IBA. Guana Lakewas formed by damming a portion of the Guana River. Beachfront property north and south of theIBA is composed of single-family homesites. The park receives ____ recreationists annually, and theWildlife Management Area receives ____ hunters and ____ recreationists annually.OWNERSHIP: Florida Division of Recreation and Parks (Guana River State Park), Florida Division ofWildlife (Guana River Wildlife Management Area)HABITATS: Guana River State Park: *temperate hammock, *xeric oak scrub, *tidal marsh, *estuarine,*coastal strand, pine flatwoods, freshwater marsh. Guana River Wildlife Management Area: ___.LAND USE: Guana River State Park: *conservation, *recreation. Guana River Wildlife ManagementArea: ____.IBA CATEGORIES: Guana River State Park: significant population of Endangered, and FCREPAspecies; significant numbers of migrant raptors; and significant natural habitats. Guana RiverWildlife Management Area: ____.AVIAN DATA: Since 1997, a raptor watch has been conducted during the same 16-day period from lateSeptember through mid-October, and has recorded significant numbers of Peregrine Falcons, andpresumably also of Merlins. The park also supports breeding Painted Buntings, and is a monitoringsite for a color-banding project underway by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Park supports a smallcolony of Least Terns. [Is a bird list available for the WMA?].Guana River State Park:SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSPeregrine Falcon 1997–2001 seasons mean of 371 birds (range mean of 18% (range of 11–24%; M)(27 Sep–12 Oct)of 234–489)Merlin1997–2001 seasons mean of 51 birds (range(M)(27 Sep–12 Oct)of 40–65)Least Tern 18 Jul 2001 116 birds 1% (B)Overall diversity Aug 1995 list 220 natives3 exoticsRaptor data of Bob Stoll and cooperators, observed from the northernmost beach platform; other data provided byRichard Owen (Florida Division of Recreation and Parks)OTHER RESOURCES: This IBA contains 4.2 miles (6.7 km) of undeveloped beach–dune habitats, one ofthe longest stretches remaining along the Atlantic Ocean. The dunes at Guana River are some of thehighest in Florida, with the secondary dunes attaining heights of 20–35 feet (6–10.5 m). • In 1992,fifty-five ♦“Anastasia Island” beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus phasma) were reintroduced intothe beaches dunes; periodic releases of additional mice from Anastasia Island are undertaken todecrease the threat of inbreeding. • Three species of sea turtles nest along the beaches: theloggerhead sea turtle, leatherback, and green turtle. Park staff have monitored sea turtle nests since