Latest news with #Wraithmell
Axios
2 days ago
- General
- Axios
Birds in Florida and nationwide are vanishing — fast
Birds that call Florida's coastline and pine forests home are in serious decline, according to a sweeping new conservation report. Why it matters: Birds are indicators of the overall health of their habitats and signal early warnings of broader trouble. If these habitats can't support birdlife, they likely can't sustain other wildlife — or even humans — for long. What they're saying: A list of species that have lost more than half of their populations in the last 50 years is "like a hit parade of Florida birds," Audubon Florida executive director Julie Wraithmell told Axios. That's in part due to migration patterns, she said. "Florida has an outsized importance for birds of this hemisphere because we're kind of like a Grand Central Station." State of play: Coastal species, including the Wilson's plover, sanderling and least tern, have experienced steep declines, according to the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. So have woodland birds like the Bachman's sparrow and Florida scrub jay — the only bird endemic to the Sunshine State — as the pine forests they inhabit shrink or disappear due to development. Zoom in: Several of the declining shorebirds are nesting now along Tampa Bay beaches, Wraithmell said, including the least tern, Wilson's plover and snowy plover. So are black skimmers, a species that didn't make the list but that Wraithmell said is similarly struggling in Florida. Friction point: These birds lay their eggs directly on the beach, making their nests particularly vulnerable. That's why beachgoers may see areas of sand blocked off to pedestrians or Audubon Florida's bird stewards keeping watch. "People aren't expecting eggs in a small, shallow indentation of sand," Wraithmell said. "A single person cutting through can cause the failure of an entire colony." Struggling to find undisturbed beach sites, some birds have turned to flat gravel rooftops, which presents its own set of challenges. The big picture: It's not just Florida. Researchers tracked species nationwide and found declines almost everywhere — even among birds once thought resilient, like waterfowl. Roughly one-third of U.S. bird species — 229 in total — are now classified as high or moderate conservation concerns. Yes, but: There are signs of hope. Conservation efforts helped the breeding population for American oystercatchers, which also nest along Tampa Bay beaches, bounce back 43% since 2009, although further conservation efforts are needed to sustain that recovery, per the report. What's next: Scientists are calling for bigger investments in habitat protection — particularly on private lands and in partnership with local communities and Indigenous nations.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State park protection bill's fate uncertain after being amended in the Florida Senate
In the final days of the Florida legislative session there's a new cloud of uncertainty around a bill aimed at protecting state parks from developments like golf courses and hotels. When the Florida Department of Environmental Protection released its plan last year to build a 350-room hotel, pickleball courts, and a disc golf course on Anastasia State Park, along with other recreational amenities like a full-scale golf course on eight additional state parks, the public fought back and won. St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell was part of the effort to oppose the plan. 'I'm not anti-development, but I'm pro-park. As a conservative, we're also about conservation,' Rumrell said. Legislation aimed at preventing another development plan on state parks like the one defeated last year seemed to be sailing through the Florida Legislature after clearing the full House last week. RELATED: 'Nearly universal support': Florida State Parks protection bill clears final House committee But now, the bill faces an uncertain path forward. An amendment tagged on to the bill ahead of a vote on the Senate floor would weaken some of the protections included in the House bill. 'It just includes things like eliminating the capacity limit on cabins, so that they wouldn't be restricted to six people, for example,' Julie Wraithmell, Executive Director of Audubon Florida, said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Wraithmell argued the changes adopted by the Senate aren't significant enough to make environmental groups oppose the legislation outright. But it's unclear whether the House will accept them. Additionally, time is running out in session and when changes are made this late, no matter how benign, legislation can die just due to the clock expiring. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'You know they haven't been overwhelmed with testimony from golfers and advocates for the other side. So, I think that Floridians are kind of scratching their heads over why this could potentially not pass when there's such broad support for it,' Wraithmell said. Action News Jax is continuing to monitor this legislation as lawmakers continue to work in the final days of session. Friday is the last day non-budget bills can be considered, without the legislature including them in a call for a special session. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
