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<DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>This shapefile includes estimates of percent composition of wading bird colonies located in 1999 by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conducted a statewide aerial survey during 26 January-25 June 1999 to locate waterbird (herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, storks, anhingas, cormorants, and pelicans) breeding colonies and estimate colony size and species composition. Fixed-wing aircraft were used to fly statewide East-West survey transects at 5-km intervals. Survey routes deviated at times to allow inventory of previously known colonies from earlier surveys. Of the 1,065 sites visited in 1999, 371 (34.8%) were active colonies supporting one or more species of waterbirds, while 694 (65.2%) were inactive sites. The largest number of active colonies (n=158, 42.6%) were located in central Florida between 27º-29ºN latitude; only 72 (19.4%) of the colonies were located in northern Florida above 29ºN; the remaining colonies (n=141, 38.0%) were found in the southern part of the state below 27ºN. Of the 371 active colonies located in 1999, 72.5% (n=269) contained 2 or more nesting species, while only 12.1% (n=45) exhibited 5 or more nesting species. The colonies in the central region tended to contain more species per colony than both the northern and southern regions of the state. Fewer colonies were found in 1999 (n=371) compared to previous statewide surveys during 1976-1978 (n=378) and 1986-1989 (n=635). Except for the brown pelican and cattle egret, most species continued a trend of nesting in smaller numbers and in fewer colonies during 1999 compared to previous surveys. Of the active colonies located in 1999, 51.2% (n=190) were previously undocumented colonies, 43.9% (n=163) were active during 1986-1989, and 21.0% (n=78) were active during 1976-1978. Only 60 (16.2%) 1999 colonies were active during the 1976-1978, 1986-1989, and 1999 surveys. This database contains records for all known and verified colonies in the state of Florida that were surveyed by the FWC during the period 1999 nesting season. Nests discovered more recently than this are not included in the database. Each year, a number of new colony sites are found. For this reason, users of this database are cautioned that the absence of a colony record for a given property does not necessarily mean wading birds are not present. This colony locator service is not meant to replace a specific on-the-ground survey. Disturbance to the colony may occur if a visit is made, and many of the colonies are located on private land. Providing these locations does not confer any permission by FWC to access private property.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV> |
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<DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>Numeric results should be used with caution as aerial estimates are variable and some species are difficult to detect (i.e., small, dark species nesting under the tree canopy). Some colonies were also visited by ground surveys. If the ground survey numbers indicated a better count, the results from the ground survey were used. Acknowledgement of the FWC-FWRI (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute) as the data source would be appreciated in any products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of this data. Please cite the original metadata when using portions of the record to create a similar record of slightly altered data, such as reprojection. If any data are modified or adjusted, please share the edited information with FWC. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. FWC shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of this data. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such. This is not a survey data set and should not be utilized as such. These data are not to be used for navigation.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV> |