Sashayed through the Vero Beach Wetlands the other morning. Sadly its deteriorated over the last two years and its unfortunate the city has failed to maintain this wetland....the cells now full of Rushes, loaded with muck, only one or two bodies of water are really available for viewing, walkways and observation platforms are rotted and unusable. Use to be a great place for Snail Kites but have seen only one or two this year, none lately. I do believe this is where all the fire ants in Florida are born and then transported elsewhere (gotta watch your step)...
...However there were still a few interesting birds available. The Kingfisher just appeared and as usual, I wasn't ready but took the shot anyway.
It had a fair amount of Roseate Spoonbills, Herons, Storks, the usual ducks, a couple of Mergansers and of course Ospreys and the one and only Painted Bunting I've seen there.
Blaster,
Thanks for sharing a nice, varied set of shots from the Vero Beach marshlands. I think Cities are being forced to spend more and more resources on basic services, leaving it to private organizations (Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, and local organizations) to try to maintain these valuable locations. Being in Dodgerland, I wonder what the financial impact of their moving their camp to Arizona has had on Vero Beach? In any event, thanks for sharing some of the beautiful and interesting species that rely on that marshland. Photos like this may help stimulate interest in maintaining these unique ecosystems.
jak
jak86094 wrote:
Blaster,
Thanks for sharing a nice, varied set of shots from the Vero Beach marshlands. I think Cities are being forced to spend more and more resources on basic services, leaving it to private organizations (Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, and local organizations) to try to maintain these valuable locations. Being in Dodgerland, I wonder what the financial impact of their moving their camp to Arizona has had on Vero Beach? In any event, thanks for sharing some of the beautiful and interesting species that rely on that marshland. Photos like this may help stimulate interest in maintaining these unique ecosystems.
jak
Blaster, br br Thanks for sharing a nice, varied ... (
show quote)
Thanks, This is definitely a candidate for Audubon or other organization's oversight (imho)...Agree money is always an issue and I believe after 11 years, the economic impact of the loss of Dodgertown is long past. However, the tax base in Vero is surely sufficient with John's Island being in the top three most expensive zip codes in America. Discussions with some other individuals strolling out there, management of the wetlands hasn't been a priority with the individual managers of the plant....Cheers
Thanks Mike, appreciate it.
rlaugh wrote:
Fine set indeed!!
Thanks Bob, appreciate it
Thanks Nimbus, appreciate the comment, Merry Christmas....
sb
Loc: Florida's East Coast
It is sad to hear about the wetlands. At the Viera Wetlands there are similar problems - it is not a park but part of the Sewer Plant, so in spite of the fact that hundreds of people visit daily - from all over the world - there are no funds designated to keep the roads and berms maintained. The problem with plants is that cattails will take over and fill the ponds, so those who maintain will use herbicide occasionally to kill them back. They are purchasing a harvester which will clear large areas of cattails to let rushes and other aquatic plants have a chance. I am upset with their use of herbicide, though - they have killed back the plants away from the shoreline all around the ponds, and this seems to have discouraged a lot of birds.
sb wrote:
It is sad to hear about the wetlands. At the Viera Wetlands there are similar problems - it is not a park but part of the Sewer Plant, so in spite of the fact that hundreds of people visit daily - from all over the world - there are no funds designated to keep the roads and berms maintained. The problem with plants is that cattails will take over and fill the ponds, so those who maintain will use herbicide occasionally to kill them back. They are purchasing a harvester which will clear large areas of cattails to let rushes and other aquatic plants have a chance. I am upset with their use of herbicide, though - they have killed back the plants away from the shoreline all around the ponds, and this seems to have discouraged a lot of birds.
It is sad to hear about the wetlands. At the Viera... (
show quote)
Gone up there numerous times this year, seems like there are less and less each time, except for muck and rushes. Hopefully winter will bring back more species...
They're doing some major work at the Orlando Wetlands Park cleaning out that one really large cell on the left as you walk in, they're supposed to start putting water back in it in February
Your sad story is unfortunately not the only one. Nice photos.
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