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Posted by Vince Lucas on 23:32:14 03/22/05
In Reply to: Any bird watchers go to Bear Island (NW Big Cypress)? posted by Marci
Marci:
Yes, quite a few Collier County birders, including myself, have birded Bear Island. Due to the many ATVs, etc., especially on weekends, it just isn't worth the hassle IMHO. The whole ecosystem up there has been degraded. Several years ago, Deborah Jansen, wildlife biologist at the Big Cypress National Preserve, told me that she found evidence of White-tailed Kites nesting in that area. I have seen one White-tailed Kite in the vicinity in several years ago, but none since. The canals along Turner River Road north of Wagonwheel leading to Bear Island still harbor a few Purple Gallinules and an occasional Least Bittern or Sora. They are fastly clogging up with invasive exotics such as cattails, water hyacinth, etc. An occasion Sedge Wren or Marsh Wren or Grasshopper Sparrow can be found in the glades nearby as well. I suspect that the campground attendant confused Bobcats for Florida Panther as the former are sometimes seen in the area of Bear Island (when the ATV good 'ole boys aren't doing their thing. Deborah Jansen radio collars Florida Panthers in the Big Cypress and can tell you more about them and where they can sometimes be seen. If you want her e-mail address, let me know (off list) and I'll send it to you. . . .
: I went to Bear Island this past weekend, at the northern end of Turner River Rd. in Big Cypress National Preserve. Do any nature enthusiasts head up this way? It seemed to be mainly off-road vehicle people, and a few fishermen (and women).
:
: The land up there is absolutely beautiful: wide-open prairies and pine forests. Bird life is abundant. The campground attendant also told me there were a lot of deer and panthers in the area too, but unfortunately I didn't see any. I keep hoping to spot a panther someday.
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