The National APP 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.
“IBAs have the unique power to unite people to conserve wild bird habitats one place at a time,” said Eric Draper, Executive Director of APP Florida. “Withlacoochee State Forest and Dry Tortugas National Park are among ‘Florida’s Special Places’, biological gems where we can observe and protect the diversity of life.”
Dry Tortugas National Park
“The 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”, said Marianne Korosy, APP Florida’s IBA Program Coordinator, adding, “The Dry Tortugas offer an amazing habitat for some of Florida’s most important wildlife, making this area a truly one-of-a-kind spot.”
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
“Withlacoochee State Forest joins an elite group of Florida IBAs that protect globally significant populations of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers”, said Marianne Korosy, APP Florida’s IBA Coordinator. “The 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.”
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’s Sparrow and Bobwhite Quail in addition to other iconic Florida species of conservation concern.