The endangered whooping crane, near extinction in the 1940's, has received a boost in recent years from the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership and ultralight aircraft guidance technology. The group and their reintroduction strategy made manifest effectively guided 17 of the 76 wild migrating whooping cranes in North America to wintering habitat in Marion County this year in January, later moving to the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge in Citrus County. Aside from the 76 Wisconsin-Florida birds, the only other migrating population of whooping cranes nests at the Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories of Canada and winters at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Whooping cranes are named for the nature of their loud unison calls. They live and breed in wetland areas, where they feed on crabs, clams, frogs and number of aquatic plants. They are rather distinctive, often reaching a height of 5 feet by adulthood, with white bodies, black wing tips and red crowns on their heads.

The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP), an international coalition of public and private organizations, is administering the reintroduction project in an effort to return this endangered species to its historic range in eastern North America.

Check out the article online at: http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/media/2008/NR27Jan08.htm

More information on the migration can be found online at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061005-whooping-cranes.html

Professor Maehr of the University of Kentucky recently authored a guest column to the St. Petersburg Times and Pasco Times regarding habitat devastation facing the Florida black bear population residing in the Greater Chassahowitzka Ecosystem (GCE) in light of development plans associated with the Sunwest Harbourtowne Development of Regional Impact. Maehr reacts to findings presented by Sunwest consultants, who failed to find signs of bear activity within the area affected by the proposed Harbourtowne DRI. Having spent years studying bear populations in the area, Maehr contends that Sunwest researchers, having found no bears, were far behind in data collection with only 29 days spent surveying a variety of species in one area.

The presence of bears in the area necessitates special consideration and completely different actions and location choices than those proposed by Sunwest's DRI. Harbourtowne is positioned to eliminate and isolate 500 acres of crucial bear habitat in the GCE, which according to Maehr help support a tiny population that has already been pushed much too far toward extinction by human encroachment. Action is necessary to promote more reliance on university-sponsored data collection and scientific evidence in the evaluation of potential DRI effects on wildlife habitat in the GCE.

Check out the article online at: http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/article474391.ece

More information on the Sunwest Harbourtowne DRI can be found online at:

http://www.sunwestpasco.com/

More information on Florida black bears can be found online at: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/interactive/springscoast/blackbear.shtml

Tape grass, (Vallisneria americana), provides excellent habitat for many Florida species such as blue crab. It is particularly important to the reproductive process, as it serves as spawning area and protective nursery for crab in the early stages of development. The long strands of grass emerging from root clusters, often arising in fairly dense underwater meadows provide cover and protection from predators for young, vulnerable crab and other species native to the Caloosahatchee.

While tape grass and other sheltering grass species such as turtle grass are fairly common often growing plentifully in both still and fast moving waters throughout Florida and other states, its presence is key in the developmental stages of many estuarine wildlife species. Areas upstream of Franklin Lock and Dam have suffered the loss of a large amount of tape grass meadows over the years. A number of factors, including effects of human development and an extended drought period have impacted salinity levels and thus the success of tape grass growth and sustenance. For these reasons, the SFWMD is initiating a project to re-seed tape grass areas upstream, where plants may grow less effected by salinity fluctuations. The project serves to increase habitat upstream in addition to continuing to seed the downstream environment.

For more information, go check out the news story online at: https://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=3034,19800838,3034_19800997:3034_19801083&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Another tape grass and other sea grasses habitat area that has experienced some degree of degradation is the 14-mile stretch of seagrasses, constituting a vital bay estuary just off shore of Pensacola Bay. As a result of chemical plant releases, among other factors, the greatest degree of loss in the way of tape grass and other sea grasses, (tape and widgeon grasses still survive there, while others do not), sheltering a wide variety of fish and scallops in the area has taken place in the Escambia Bay section of the area. A number of efforts to restore vital gulf estuary seagrass habitat has been undertaken over the years with varying degrees of success.

For more information online, check out: ftp://ftp.dep.state.fl.us/pub/water/basin411/pensacola/status/Fig2-2.pdf

The Florida Bird Monitoring Program serves to provide a website forum for people from throughout the state to share data collected in regards to bird sightings on their properties and in their neighborhoods. The program was developed by the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation's Wildlife Extension office.

Participants collect information on the types of birds seen in their yards and neighborhoods, then share and compare survey results through the monitoring program's website. Participants landscaping for wildlife habitat friendly design also employ the forum to exchange information regarding which strategies were effective, and which attracted various species as opposed to others, etc.

You name the area, from rural, to forested, to agricultural, to densely urban city environments, if there are bird there, the area is an excellent place to conduct a survey and share results.

For more information on the Florida Public Bird Monitoring Program, please visit the website at:

http://bird.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html 

A recent article in the Gainesville Sun highlights the important work of the Alachua Conservation Trust, after its most recent purchase of a fifty-acre parcel to complete a contiguous 368-acre preserve. The parcel fills a gap in an area of crucial habitat and completes a wildlife corridor beneficial to many species native to the area, including the Florida Black Bear. This parcel represents just a small part of the roughly 14,000 acres the trust has worked to protect over the years, through public land purchases and conservation easements. The trust has made great strides in land management and habitat restoration as well, and stands positioned to accomplish much more for the area's vital wildlife habitat.

Check out the article online at: http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080320/NEWS/803200325

 And check out more about the Alachua Conservation Trust Online at: http://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org/

Who needs sand pine scrub? Florida Wildlife. Despite its seemingly harsh nature, many wildlife species depend upon the functions of sand pine scrub for a number of reasons throughout the natural course of ecosystem dynamics in the Ocala National Forest. Particularly the threatened scrub jay, among others makes the Ocala National Forest's sand pines scrub environs its home. Low-growing scrub oaks of the sand pine scrub unique to the area provide habitat and acorns that support them. The loose, sandy soil characteristic of scrub pine areas also serves as an escape from the cold and heat for burrowing species such as the gopher tortoise, mice and push-up beetles.

When fire essential to the health of the sand pine scrub ecosystem comes, inhabiting species take refuge in wet prairies. They serve as an island in a sea of burning scrub for a number of species. These two types of habitat, in conjunction with several others create an important circle throughout which many species reside and use its resources to ensure survival.

For more info online see the article: http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080309/NEWS/549319607

Although the Ocala National Forest may boast protection of the largest area of sand pine scrub ecosystem in the world, species dependent upon such habitat, ranging from scrub to wet prairies to sand hills etc. do not live without some human-induced dangers to their vital habitats. The Ocala National Forest is characterized by a rich and diverse history, resulting in its modern perception by the local community as a "forest of contrasts," balancing between use of the forest's many resources for recreation and livelihood, as well as protection of those resources for sustainable future enjoyment and appreciation.

For more info online see the article: http://www.ocala.com/article/20071230/NEWS/712300354/1001/NEWS01

The Forest Service, Florida Trail Association and other organizations have sought to manage recreational and other types of activities in the forest to protect fragile habitats that are particularly susceptible to degradation as a result of traffic created by human recreation. "Traffic" here refers particularly to the use of OHV's (Off-highway vehicles) in certain areas of the forest, such as areas of deep sand associated with scrub and sandhills ecosystems, resulting in the destruction of sensitive habitat of native species. Of course OHV usage is not inherently bad, and there are several areas of the National Forest designated especially for welcome ATV and off-roading recreation. Unfortunately however, restrictions on more sensitive areas have been problematic for park staff to enforce proper off-road vehicle use in an area as large as the Ocala National Forest.

The short-hand version of the Final Route designation for the Ocala National Forest, issued by the U.S. Forest Service can be accessed online at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/news/documents/PressReleasePhaseII.doc

There are a number of projects geared toward helping out wildlife and plant habitat in the Ocala National Forest, such as those sponsored by the Florida Trail Association and the Sierra Club. Such projects involve help with OHV signs and buffers as well as a multitude of beneficial forest habitat management activities.

More info online at:

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/brochure/08439A.asp

http://www.floridatrail.org/web/index.php

Chapter 7 of the BMP Manual (coming soon) deals with agricultural and working landscapes and their relationship to wildlife habitat and conservation in Florida. Here are a few introductory highlights from the chapter.

Agricultural areas and working landscapes in Florida have a unique relationship to the practice of conserving wildlife habitat. The culture, heritage, way of life and means of subsistence characteristic to Florida are as essential to its framework and cultural magnetism as its diverse array of flora, fauna and natural resources. Florida agriculture and the people who maintain and depend upon its ranches, prairies and forest lands remain an inextricable part of a rich cultural heritage and stewards of its natural resources.

A great deal of land use alterations and urban sprawl, such as conversion of formerly agricultural lands to residential and urban areas has been characteristic of the Florida agricultural landscape in recent years. Such practices have resulted in farming intensification and some detrimental practices employed to compensate for declining economic success in the wake of the spreading trend in development. Such conditions have led to an alarming degree of habitat degradation, fragmentation and even loss of wildlife habitat in many rural areas of the state, having severe effects on their populations. It is important to understand however, that it is indeed realistic and practical for agriculture and wildlife to exist together in mutual benefit.

As these two parts of the fabric of Florida's rural landscape require protection and conservation, so they stand positioned to effectively assist one another in maintaining habitat and helping farms to thrive. A number of tools are available for urban and regional planners, farmers and private landowners to promote natural habitats for wildlife in conjunction with continued economic viability for farming. Conservation-centered planning and management by rural and agricultural landowners in Florida can have a significant positive impact on a number of the state's natural habitat resources including rangelands, forests, soils, wetlands and water habitats.

Interesting Websites: 

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences sponsors a helpful informational website as part of their involvement with the Agriculture Extension Service.  The site contains a wealth of information regarding measures that farmers and landowners can take to implement and improve wildlife conservation strategies.

More info online: http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/

The University of Florida provides even more useful information regarding land management strategies at the wildlife and interface.

More info online:  http://wildlifeandag.wec.ufl.edu/

The Florida division of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides useful information on conservation services: cost-share and conservation easement opportunities for rural and agricultural landowners.

More info online: http://www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) has accomplished a great deal through encouraging participation in the Landowner Incentives Program (LIP).

More info online: http://myfwc.com/LIP/

Martin County was recently featured as an exemplary local government in their initiatives toward parks and conservation lands in rural and agricultural areas, helpful to wildlife and appreciators alike.

More info online: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/open-space-47030101