ÃÛèÖAPP

It’s been almost two weeks since Hurricane IrmaÌýmade its first of two landfalls inÌýFlorida,Ìýand according to newÌýreports fromÌýÃÛèÖAPPÌýscientists,ÌýallÌý44 active nests belonging toÌýEvergladeÌýSnail Kites atÌýLake Okeechobee were lost due to the storm’s high winds and high rainfall. Lake Okeechobee isÌýFlorida’s largest lake andÌýa stronghold for the endangered Everglade Snail Kite, a Snail Kite subspecies that can only be found in America’sÌýEverglades. Post-Irma assessments of the lake indicate that many adults and juveniles in the area survived the storm, but anyÌýnests with eggs or flightless chicksÌýwere destroyed.
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Such a loss would be a huge blow in any year for the bird, but this year itÌýis especially detrimental.ÌýBefore Irma, there hadÌýonly been about 130ÌýEvergladeÌýSnail KiteÌýnests—a far cry from last year’s 800-plusÌýnests. About 75 percent of the population did not even attempt to nest this year, which ourÌýscientists suggest could beÌýrelated to an extraordinarily dry spring. That means thatÌýnesting in 2017 was harmed by both excessively dry and wet events.Ìý

The kite’sÌýbreeding success isÌýclosely tied to the water levels at Lake Okeechobee. These highly specialized huntersÌýrely on apple snails to feed their young, and the snails rely on the lake’s plants for food.ÌýToo much water, and the plants drown. Too little, and the habitat dries up. ÃÛèÖAPP magazine documented the close relationship between the snails and the kites last year. Furthermore, when the water level is right, the kites create their low-lying nests in marshy areas. When the lake rises or falls too quickly, it can cause the birds to abandon their nests and the eggs or chicks in them.Ìý

Because of these ties, theÌýEvergladeÌýSnail Kite is one of a handful of species used to indicate the health of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem,Ìýmaking it a top conservation priority for ÃÛèÖAPP.ÌýAs restoration efforts continue, ÃÛèÖAPP Florida will continue its effortsÌýto maintainÌýhealthyÌýwater levels in Lake Okeechobee—and all of Florida—that are not too dry or wet. Due to lack of water storage capacity in the region, Lake Okeechobee water levels continue toÌýrapidly riseÌýfrom storms. If too much water flows into the lake too quickly, miles of critical plants and vital habitat could be flooded.
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In addition to fighting for improved habitat forÌýEvergladeÌýSnail Kites, ÃÛèÖAPP Florida also protectsÌýtwo sanctuaries onÌýLakeÌýOkeechobee and preservesÌýtheirÌýmarshes, whichÌýmake up some of the most productive habitat in the Greater EvergladesÌýEcosystem. With the right conditions and good lake management,Ìýnext year’s nesting efforts shouldÌýhopefullyÌýimprove.

(A version of this post first appeared onÌýÃÛèÖAPP Florida'sÌý.)Ìý