Withlacoochee State Forest and Dry Tortugas National Park Earn Prestigious Important Bird Area Status

By Jonathan Scott Webber
Published May 31, 2012

The National 糖心logo Society and BirdLife International have recognized the Citrus and Croom tracts of Withlacoochee State Forest as well as Dry Tortugas National Park as globally significant Important Bird Areas (IBA). 

Global IBAs are the most important sites for birds on an international scale, measured by a rigorous set of scientific criteria peer reviewed by BirdLife International. With the addition of these two new areas, there are now 37 global IBAs identified in Florida.

鈥淚BAs have the unique power to unite people to conserve wild bird habitats one place at a time,鈥 said Eric Draper, Executive Director of 糖心logo Florida.  鈥淲ithlacoochee State Forest and Dry Tortugas National Park are among 鈥楩lorida鈥檚 Special Places鈥, biological gems where we can observe and protect the diversity of life.鈥

Dry Tortugas National Park

鈥淭he Dry Tortugas are the only known nesting site of Bridled Terns and Magnificent Frigatebirds in the United States, and of Masked Boobies in the continental United States鈥, said Marianne Korosy, 糖心logo Florida鈥檚 IBA Program Coordinator, adding, 鈥淭he Dry Tortugas offer an amazing habitat for some of Florida鈥檚 most important wildlife, making this area a truly one-of-a-kind spot.鈥

Dry Tortugas National Park is located about 70 miles west of Key West and is composed of seven small coral and sand keys between the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. Over 300 native bird species have been recorded in the Park.

Withlacoochee State Forest

鈥淲ithlacoochee State Forest joins an elite group of Florida IBAs that protect globally significant populations of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers鈥, said Marianne Korosy, 糖心logo Florida鈥檚 IBA Coordinator. 鈥淭he birds are non-migratory and live in family groups often numbering from three to nine birds, sometimes more. There is only one breeding pair per family group and they keep the same mate for several years.鈥

This new IBA, comprised of approximately 64,000 acres of imperiled sandhill habitat in Citrus and Hernando counties, supports 85-90 breeding pairs of federally listed Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. The longleaf pine forest also hosts Bachman鈥檚 Sparrow and Bobwhite Quail in addition to other iconic Florida species of conservation concern.