Audubon Florida’s Coastal Islands Sanctuaries (FCIS) is partnering with the Avian Research and Conservation Institute, Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and Audubon’s Everglades Science Center staff in a state-wide survey of Reddish Egrets and their nesting sites. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s State Wildlife Grant Program is funding this first-of-its-kind survey.  The Reddish Egret is state-listed as an imperiled species because of extremely small population size – likely less than 800 mature individuals in Florida – and possible negative population trends.  This rare, colorful, mid-sized heron depends upon very specific estuarine habitats for nesting and foraging.

While FCIS has surveyed colonial birds in the Tampa Bay region for decades, information on the distribution and abundance of Reddish Egrets along the rest of Florida’s coastline is sparse. While breeding, the egrets’ daily activities are centered at specific colony sites for several months. Surveying during the peak nesting season – typically December to March in Florida Bay and late February to May in the central Gulf Coast – will result in a more accurate population count of adult birds. The project will provide a rigorous, validated survey method to monitor Reddish Egret population trends and a baseline for future statewide surveys.  Data collected on nest-site attributes will enable managers to focus on protecting important Reddish Egret habitats.

Reddish Egret populations may never recover to historic population levels because they rely on habitat that has suffered permanent damage from coastal development and water quality degradation, but that makes protecting the remaining habitat even more important.  To report the location of Reddish Egret nest sites anywhere in Florida, contact Mark Rachal or Ann Paul at Audubon FCIS - 813/623-6826.