Posted by ken schneider on January 01, 1970 at 00:00:00
Brian and Nicole-- Yes, this area is posted and largely fenced in so that the only practical means of ingress/egress are via private land. The west end of Miramar Parkway remains unpaved and is closed to vehicular traffic with a gate and no trespassing signs. There has been a problem with ATV "wreckreationalists" who enter from one of the several private homes along the western stretch of road. They also carve out passages through the Melaleucas at the north end (south end of SW 196th Avenue in Pembroke Pines) by chainsaw and slog through unless the water is too high. Much of the area is under SFWMD control and I checked with them there is no prohibition against hiking or bicycling on the trails-- if you can get to them!. Although Mary Lou and I walk there almost every day (as do joggers and dog-walkers) there is no enforcement of the rule by law enforcement who occasionally patrol the area. They are worried about vandalism and firearm use. The Bell's Vireo appears on Sunset Lakes Homeowners property (usually, as yesterday) or on nearby SFWMD Water Conservation Area land. So what to do? Depending upon my schedule, I will be happy to "host" a birder as my guest and legally enter via HOA property. We usually go out a little before sunrise if there is no threat of rain, presently around 7:00 AM. There is legal parking for one or two cars along the fence at the western end of Miramar Parkway and we can arrange to meet there. We can also have one or two "guests" park in our driveway if they are willing to get out with us before sunrise, as we are in a gated community. I suggest that individuals either e-mail me at mailto:ken@rosyfinch.com or via Facebook Messenger https://www.facebook.com/kcschneider to arrange a meet-up. Discalamer: If rain is in the forecast we do not go out, and the Bell's Vireo is difficult to find and may require a very patient and likely unproductive wait to hear or see it. I have seen it only about a dozen times since mid-October despite stopping by its haunts almost every morning. Best time for sighting is between 8-9 AM for us, but we do not go out in the heat of day so have no idea as to whether later in the day is better. Rain is forecast today and tomorrow. It is supposed to clear Friday and over the weekend so we will very likely be out those mornings. we can arrange to meet someone at the gate if we exchange phone numbers and give us word before arriving so that I can walk back to the gate.