A Resource Worth Protecting
To fulfill our mission of protecting, preserving, and restoring habitat in our region, St. Johns County Audubon participates in a number of conservation programs. Our efforts help keep birds and other wildlife healthy and abundant, and ensure that future generations of Floridians can enjoy the wonder of the natural world. Read an overview of our key programs below.
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Learn about the plants that are native to your area and provide habitat and food for the birds.
Go to this webpage - www.audubon.org/native-plants/search?zipcode=32081 - and type in your own zip code. Click on Search to see a list of native plants in your area. |
St. Johns and Flagler Shorebird Partnership
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This award-winning project began as the St. Johns County Least Tern Project in 2007. Armed with a grant from Audubon Florida, the chapter set out to develop a program for protecting and monitoring nesting sites of Least Terns and Wilson’s Plovers. We later formed the St. Johns County Shorebird Partnership (now the St. Johns and Flagler Shorebird Partnership), the second such partnership in Florida.
cfarrell@audubon.orgThe partnership includes: St. Johns County Audubon, Audubon Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida State Parks, Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ft. Matanzas National Monument, and St. Johns County. Our efforts are twofold: our volunteers assist agency partners in posting nesting sites, and our dedicated bird steward volunteers monitor posted sites on weekends and holidays to ensure nothing disturbs or threatens the nesting birds. The stewards actively engage the public to make people aware of the necessity of protecting the birds and their nesting habitats. They also collect scientific data by surveying the birds and nesting sites on a year round basis. Our stewards primarily work at Matanzas Inlet and Porpoise Point, and occasionally at Anastasia State Park and Summer Haven when significant colonies are present. |
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Successes of the project include stopping vehicle traffic at Matanzas Inlet and limiting traffic on Porpoise Point during nesting season. Through the efforts of the stewards we have fostered a greater public understanding of the needs of beach-dependent birds. Our surveys help budget-strapped agencies collect the data they need to make informed management decisions.
In recognition of the project’s success, St. Johns County Audubon was awarded Audubon Florida’s Conservation Chapter of the Year award for 2007. In 2010, the project’s bird stewards were again recognized by Audubon Florida for their conservation efforts on behalf of beach-dependent birds.
Interesting in participating? Check out our Bird Stewardship page, or email Chris Farrell at Audubon Florida for more information.
In recognition of the project’s success, St. Johns County Audubon was awarded Audubon Florida’s Conservation Chapter of the Year award for 2007. In 2010, the project’s bird stewards were again recognized by Audubon Florida for their conservation efforts on behalf of beach-dependent birds.
Interesting in participating? Check out our Bird Stewardship page, or email Chris Farrell at Audubon Florida for more information.
