Audubon Science - Important Bird Areas

	Important Bird Areas
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FLORIDA’S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM

Images courtesy Audubon Corkscrew Swap Website

FEATURED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: Corkscrew Swamp Watershed
State: Florida
Counties: Collier and Lee Counties
Nearest Community: Immokalee

Site Description: The Corkscrew Swamp Watershed Important Bird Area is composed largely of pine flatwoods, cypress swamp, and sawgrass marsh. These primary natural habitats are interspersed with temperate hammocks, agricultural fields, freshwater marshes, lakes/ponds, and some disturbed areas.

Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary within the watershed, contains the largest virgin bald cypress swamp remaining in North America, with some trees over 600 years old. The Sanctuary provides a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the habitats of the watershed through its 2.25-mile boardwalk.

Ornithological Summary: Corkscrew Swamp IBA often contains the nation's largest Wood Stork rookery, although nesting success, which is dependent on local water levels, is extremely variable (Table 1 and Table 2). This colony has been monitored annually since 1958. The Sanctuary and the CREW Wildlife and Environmental Area both contain Swallow-tailed Kites roosts, with over 400 birds combined (26%). Corkscrew Swamp IBA is one the most avian diverse places in the state with 218 native species.

Table 1: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Data

SPECIES	DATES	NUMBERS	COMMENTS
Wood Stork	1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001	914 nests, 250 young fledged 600 nests, 1400 young fledged 220 nests, 0 young fledged 450 nests, 1028 young fledged 0 nests 1721 nests, 2538 young fledged 0 nests
Swallow-tailed Kite	25 Jul 1989 27 Jul 1996 Jul 2000	344 birds 348 birds <100 birds	>20% >20% 6%
Overall bird diversity		218 natives 4 exotics	undated checklist

Stork data provided by Andrew Mackie (Audubon of Florida); kite roost data from Bensen (1992), observations of Robbie Wooster published in Florida Field Naturalist, and provided by Ken Meyer (Avian Research and Conservation Institute).

Table 2: CREW Wildlife and Environmental Area Data

SPECIES	DATES	NUMBERS	COMMENTS
Wading birds	Mar 1995 Aug 1995 Mar 1996 Aug 1996 Mar 1997	912 birds observed, 6100 estimated 1482 birds observed, 9900 estimated 756 birds observed, 5000 estimated 1501 birds observed, 10,000 estimated 1232 birds observed, 8200 estimated
Bird Diversity		110 natives 2 exotics

Data from Bozzo et al. (2001) References: Bensen, K.J. 1992. Dynamics of an American Swallow-tailed Kite communal roost at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 20:66-71.
Bozzo, J., J. Schortemeyer, D. Myers, J. Goodwin, and D. Fousek. 2001. Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed general management plan.

Images courtesy Audubon Corkscrew Swap Website

Conservation Issues: Thanks to the efforts of the staff and volunteers at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary many of the environmental and wildlife threats are adverted or minimized. The Corkscrew Watershed however has experienced severe modification over the years. Recent efforts focused on restoration of the Everglades, back to its natural waterflow, will help mitigate some of the human disturbance the area has received over the years.
If acquisition efforts of the CARL project are successful, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and adjacent lands will be linked directly with conservation areas to the south, such as Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. This would provide for additional habitat protection for the birds, as well as other rare and endangered wildlife.

To Learn More About Audubon Florida’s
Important Bird Areas Program

Visit the Website:
Important Bird Areas of Florida

Contact:
Mark Kraus
Deputy Director
Audubon of Florida
444 Brickell Ave., Suite 850
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 371-6399
mkraus@audubon.org