HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-by Lauren Jonalis-Tropical Audubon Society Letter to CommissionersTROPICALAUDUBON SOCIETY
SOUTH FLORIDA'S VOICE OF CONSERVATION
March 5, 2024
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive,
Miami, FL 33142
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Subject: Bird survey results of Mangrove and Legion Picnic Islands in North Biscayne Bay
Dear City of Miami Commissioners and Staff,
On the early morning of February 21 (approximately 7:00am), Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) staff and Board
members completed a bird survey of Mangrove and Legion Picnic Islands in north Biscayne Bay (figure 1). The
following species that can be found are listed in table 1 below. Additional details of the survey, with photos, have
been uploaded to eBird at the link here. Please see figure 2 for photo documentation of nesting behavior in Brown
Pelicans and active nesting of Double -crested Cormorants. See figure 3 for photo documents of the variety of birds
roosting on the islands. Please note, a state threatened Tricolored Heron was observed roosting on the southernmost
island of Legion Picnic Islands.
Table 1. Species type, number of species and behavior observed of birds found on Mangrove and Legion Picnic Islands in north
Biscayne Bay. The ones in bold are actively nesting and/or exhibiting nesting behavior (i.e. carrying nesting material). Please
note, a state threatened Tricolored Heron was observed roosting on the southernmost Legion Picnic Island (highlighted in
red).
Species
Number of Species:
Mangrove Island
Number of species:
Legion Picnic Islands
Behavior
Anhinga
2
Flyover
Brown Pelican
15
2
Carrying nesting
material
Do uble-crested
Cormorant
10
1
Nesting/roosting
Great Blue Heron
3
1
Roosting
Great Egret
4
9
Carrying nesting
material
Laughing Gull
1
Flyover
Little Blue Heron
1
Flyover
Magnificent Frigate Bird
4
Roosting
Ring -billed Gull
1
Flyover
Snowy Egret .
-
2
Roosting
Tricolored Heron
1
Roosting
Turkey Vulture
50
8
Roosting
Western Cattle Egret
3
Roosting
Yellow -crowned Night
Heron
1
Roosting
White Ibis
7
6
Flyover
5530 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143 1305.667.7337 I www.tropicalaudubon.org
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We are hopeful that we can all work together to implement immediate protections for Mangrove and Legion Picnic
Islands, by establishing these spoil islands as Critical Wildlife Areas (CWA's) and increasing marine patrol to
enforce the Slow Speed Manatee Protection Zone in the area. These spoil islands serve as a location for hundreds
of birds of over a dozen species to rest and restore. Further, these islands are some of the last remaining nesting
habitats in north Biscayne Bay.
Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at conservationdirector(7n tropicalaudubon.org
or (631)365-4943.
Sincerely,
Lauren Jonaifis
Senior Conservation Director
Tropical Audubon Society
cc. FWC Imperiled Species Management Section, FWC Division of Law Enforcement Boating and Waterways Section;
Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves Manager Griffin Alexander; Chair of Miami -Dade County Florida Inland Navigation
District (F.I.N.D.) Spencer Crowley; F.I.N.D. Executive Director Janet Zimmerman; City of Miami Chief Resilience
Officer Sonia Brubaker; City of Miami Director of Parks & Recreation Department Chris Evans
Figure I. Aerial map depicting the location of Mangrove and Legion Picnic Islands off of Morningside Park in north Biscayne
Bay.
5530 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143 1305.667.7337 I www.tropicalaudubon.ora
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Figure 2. Double -crested Cormorant nesting on Mangrove Island (left) and Brown Pelican carrying nesting material to
Mangrove Island (right). Photos by TAS Communications Director, Ana Lima.
Figure 3. Magnificent Frigate Birds (top left), Great Blue Heron (top right), Yellow -Crowned Night Heron (bottom left) and
Great Egret (bottom right) roosting on Mangrove Island. Photo by TAS Communications Director, Ana Lima.
5530 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143 1 305.667.7337 I www.tropicalaudubon.org
Tropical
Audubon
Society
Lauren Jonaitis
Srr k► r Conservation Director
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