ABC Islands

Near Marco Island in southwestern Collier County

Three small mangrove islands in the Gulf of Mexico. The islands are designated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a Critical Wildlife Area and are monitored by Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

This IBA has significant populations of Special Concern, FCREPA, and IBA species; significant numbers of wading birds; and long-term research.

Ownership: State of Florida

Ornithological Summary

The islands support significant breeding populations of Brown Pelicans and wading birds, and also contain a regular roost for Magnificent Frigatebirds and wading birds. Between 1974 and 1997, Ted Below conducted 705 dusk roost counts of the islands, and continues to monitor the rookery. Only a rudimentary bird list is available.

Conservation Issues

The islands are designated as a Critical Wildlife Area to protect the rookery, but there is no known management plan, and disturbance from boaters and fishermen is severe. Operators of tour boats, including 30-passenger airboats, disturb the birds in order to give a ?good show;? airboats have actually blown into the rookery to cause the birds to take flight. ? Fishermen anchor near shore and often leave fishing line in the mangroves.