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Posted by Paul-the-other on 17:19:05 10/22/06
In Reply to: Re: Birds are coming posted by Filiki Wulf
Hoechoka Hammock
This material replaces (http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/messages/1930.html)
The church of Mary Help of Christians (24 acres) at Sawgrass Expressway and University Drive (NE corner) has recently been replatted and the site was named Hoechoka Hammock. It used to be Pine Tree estates Section3. The 24 acre site is site planned for a pre-school (operational), a multi-purpose hall (operational), an elementary school (k-7 operational), and church building (not yet constructed). In the middle of that church/school/pre-school site is a hammock under construction. Ideas for the hammock were drawn from Joyce Gann s publication in the Fairchild Garden Newsletter, You Can Build a Hammock .
The Hammock is referred to as Hoechoka Hammock so that all of our friends in the Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Save-What's-Left and other environmentally active groups can use that name. This project represents a pro-active effort by the Archdiocese of Miami in the environmental area. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) funded a small grant to start this effort. Dedicated parishioners (now known as the Land Stewardship Committee-LSC) have maintained a data base and photographs of the progress. The challenge is to protect and enhance the environment in a manner consistent with the educational, spiritual, and liturgical goals of the Archdiocese and the parish. This project is not meant to be a private Everglades Park but instead a fully functioning parish with dedicated parishioners worshipping, educating their children, and experiencing while they learn about the flora and fauna of South Florida. Publications on the Birds of Mary Help of Christians, the Plants of Mary Help of Christians, and a broad overlook at the work of Hoechoka Hammock A Walk In The Garden, will be published soon. These three publications will conclude and fulfill the efforts under the grant from the NCCB
The work of the LSC has resulted in over 500,000 plants on the grounds of which 98% are native vegetation. To the best of our knowledge this represents the largest cluster of diverse native vegetation on a single site north of Fairchild and south of Lake Okeechobee. At present there is 178 different species of trees, shrubs, ground cover, vines, orchids and bromeliads that are considered as native vegetation by the major academic and popular press. What is more important is that the plant material is fully functional in contributing to erosion control, shade, worship areas, and bird and animal food sources. As an example, there are berries and seeds available for every month of the year so that resident as well as migrant bird populations can have a ready food source in their journeys.
The grounds are used extensively for education of the pre-school as well as grade school children. Science Club members have regular tours and work projects in the Hammock in their school backyard. The .LSC has published a newsletter every month for the past seven years featuring the progress of the parish in its environmental concerns. The newsletter, called The Green Leaf, is not only a progress report but an effective teaching tool for the parents and children. The unique aspect of the Green Leaf is that it features a page on news, a page on the wildlife, and a page on personal reflections by parishioners on wilderness, nature, etc. It is a teaching church and a learning church. (Vatican Council II)
For an internet look at this truly unique concept of a nature site that is totally consistent with worship and education goals of the Archdiocese see mhoc.org.
The LSC has two work days each month. They are the second and fourth Saturday. Most of the members are on site at the time. On Sunday morning LSC members are around answering questions, giving short tours, or just enjoying the fruits of their labor. The grounds are open for your pleasure, reflection, bird counts and photography. Remember that this is also used by school children (8-3) and worship Saturday (5-7) and Sunday (7-1). That isn t meant to restrict your visits but to point out traffic congestion potential. The LSC has often in the past given tours by request and shared photo-ops for nature photographers. Timing is off course everything. But members of Tropical Audubon and naturalist will recognize that. Stop in at appropriate seasonal times and watch for hummers, catbirds, dove, hawks, and osprey in the Hammock area. The nightly show of roosting anhinga and cormorants has ended since the construction along the Sawgrass Expressway has eliminated all the Australian Pines. That is a pity because it was a comical sight watching the birds line up for landing and bump one another from perches.
When you come enter at the church entrance (first turn coming from the Sawgrass) proceed down the entrance road and turn left at the mailbox. Park on the first grass island directly opposite the white sand walkroad. Walk into the picnic area. Your binoculars, bird lists or books, and general familiarity with words such as TAS, FOY, will help us to know your guest status. Ladies, no high heels for your own comfort. For security purposes please contact us at 954-344-5400 (Paul A. Gore or Carol Zeglen) if you will be at the Hammock after dark. We will let the Broward Sheriff Office know. They have a close working relationship with the parish and patrols are frequent. Avoid the school area for security purposes.
First one down the paths should carry a web-stick because the Golden Orbweavers and crab spiders love to spin a web. No poisonous snakes have ever been seen on the site. Raccoons, opossum, armadillo, and grey squirrels are numerous. Birds are both seasonal and resident. Fish are abundant in the waterways and 6-7 pound bass are not uncommon.
See you in Hoechoka Hammock.
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