Posted by Robin Diaz on March 29, 2003 at 18:43:13:
Anyone birding Lucky Hammock during the past 2 months has noticed that due to agricultural preparation and planting, the transitional brushy areas surrounding the hammock are gone. This buffer zone of vegetation was productive and very important in supporting the wintering bird population.
I spoke with Tim Regan, a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He has been with the Commission for 29 years and has worked on Frog Pond WMA for 6 years. He explained the difficulty of land management and restoration in Miami-Dade County, calling it a "nightmare." Invasive exotic vegetation is a major factor. Managing Frog Pond with this respect is a costly situation, even to the effect of disproportionate funds spent on a fairly small parcel. Giving contracts to local farmers to cultivate the surrounding fields is one of the temporary solutions to the problem.
Recently, the farmer preparing the adjacent fields did not understand that the brushy vegetation surrounding the hardwood hammock was intentional. The Commission feels that this buffer zone is important. Jason Smith, who managed the Annex restoration, said that plans to replant the areas bordering the south and east sides of the hammock will be implemented very soon.