Thanks to a generous donation from Mahaffey Management, LLC, the Florida Audubon Society now owns Dot Dash Dit Critical Wildlife Area in the Tampa Bay region.

Dot, Dash, and Dit are three small mangrove spoil islands on the Braden River—important breeding and nesting sites for a mixed wading bird colony that includes Roseate Spoonbill, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and Wood Stork. Audubon staff have managed the islands since the early 1990s, conducting monitoring surveys, posting no trespassing signs, and removing trash and other debris. We are thrilled to now have official ownership of this important property.

Audubon will manage in partnership with the State of Florida, which owns the southern 40% of Dash Island. We plan to construct a living shoreline breakwater similar to the mile-long breakwater currently protecting islands from erosion at Alafia Bank Bird Sanctuary, leased from and managed in collaboration with the Mosaic Company. This construction is possible thanks to a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

“The islands present a unique opportunity for Audubon to own a regionally important waterbird roosting and nesting site that has been recognized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a Critical Wildlife Area of statewide significance.” ~ Audrey DeRose-Wilson, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon Florida

This article originally appeared in the 2024 Summer edition of the Naturalist. To read the full version, click here.