The transformation of a 60-acre spoil island into a bird sanctuary garnered top honors from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. The $7.3 million project, a joint venture of the Manatee County Port Authority, Gulfstream Natural Gas System and Florida Audubon, beat out seven other contenders for the annual Future of the Region Award.
For decades, the spoil mound sat unused as exotic vegetation and predatory animals kept birds at bay. Though Port Manatee’s state lease allowed commercial development of the island, the port authority instead chose to enhance the island’s environmental value. Exotic species were removed, allowing native plants to flourish. The island was re-sculpted to create elevated open spaces framed by mangrove marsh areas for nesting and feeding birds. Florida Audubon counted 63 species of birds utilizing the new sanctuary after the project was completed in 2003. In its debut nesting season, eighteen nesting species were noted on the island, including 60 pairs of least terns, a threatened species.
Article originally published Summer 2004.
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