TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Protected bird-nesting areas may soon double in number along Florida's shores.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will consider creating 10 new sanctuaries at its meeting in St. Petersburg Wednesday. In doing so, the commission would be reviving a decades-old conservation practice with proven results.
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Florida has 20 critical wildlife areas. Most were created in the 1970s and 80s. But as the population grew, bird-nesting areas were mostly left behind -- until now.
The FWC will vote on creating 10 new sanctuaries and expanding five existing locations. Both regulators and conservationists said the vote is a big deal.
Florida Audubon called the action long overdue, but something few will even notice, saying the biggest change would be how the public knows they are approaching one of these critical wildlife areas.
"What these will do is make it possible to post signs in the water around the islands, so people will be advised not to get close than that, so the birds will be able to nest successfully," said Julie Wraithmell of the Florida Audubon.
If both conservationists and regulators agree this is a big deal, many have asked why has it taken decades for an expansion.
"There has been a period of time here we did not use this conservation tool. I think it’s been a little bit rediscovered by this commission. they approved two the last few years and they’ve been very successful, and that caused them to think we need some more," said Kipp Frohlich, deputy director, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.
While out of favor for a several decades, it is a tried and true method of protecting birds.
"These are very target, very modest protections, with a really big benefits," Wraithmell said.
Invading the birds privacy in a critical wildlife area is a misdemeanor, but FWC said once established, the regulations are almost universally obeyed.
Of the 10 new critical wildlife areas, nine are for birds and one is for bats.