In May, the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida granted Audubon funds to manage and protect six active nesting colonies and one abandoned colony that has supported past Tricolored Heron nesting. The Tricolored Heron is a state-Threatened wading bird with a declining population in the Tampa Bay region.

Using new motion-sensitive game cameras and other techniques, staff will manage threats to the colonies, including predation, human disturbance, and trash—especially fishing line and gear. As we continue to gather information on this species, we will work with land managers and decision makers to give productive nesting sites additional protections.

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