Viera Wetlands Field Trip

I’m warning you right up front, this is a very long post. Most stories about the Viera Wetlands focus on the birds, but we're going to talk about what it is, how to get there, and what to expect. If you already know those things, speed read!

Just a few years ago, the Viera Wetlands was one of Brevard’s best-kept secrets. Besides the County employees that worked at the South Central Water Reclamation Facility where the Wetlands is located, only a few nature photographers (including Jim, Matt, and Charlie, of course) knew about it and they told NOBODY! But all good things come to an end - now the area is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and draws over 60,000 visitors a year.

The Wetlands is part of Brevard County’s wastewater reuse system. It is the property of the Brevard County Utility Services and managed by the Natural Resources Management Office. It opened to the public in 2000. In late 2007, it was renamed the Rich Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera in honor of a long-time Brevard County employee killed in a traffic accident on his way to work.

The Wetlands consists of 200 acres divided by berms into four cells (ponds) around a central lake. The cells are numbered Cell 1, Cell 2, Cell 3, and Cell 4. As you are driving into the Reclamation Facility (observing the 15 MPH speed limit please), notice the bright blue water tank. Reclaimed water is stored in this tank and then pumped into cells 1 and 2, then into the lake, then into cells 3 and 4. At each step, the water is “polished” for irrigation or overflow into the adjacent Four-mile Canal.

Let us digress here for a moment to talk about reclaimed water. According to the very interesting Brevard County Utility Services web site, Reclaimed water is wastewater effluent that has been highly treated and filtered, resulting in a high quality water suitable for lawn irrigation and many other purposes. The process creates a virtual playground for wildlife, and we are so fortunate that our County makes this water treatment facility accessible to the public.

To get to the Wetlands, you’ll drive in through the Water Reclamation Facility itself – buildings, water tanks, trucks, and all. (Our Just the Facts section at the end of this post will give you excruciatingly explicit directions.) In the Reference Links section of Just the Facts, there's a link to print out a Viera Wetlands Visitor’s Guide. It has the map shown above, plus a dandy wildlife checklist. You can also pick up this guide and other interesting brochures at the Water Reclamation Facility Ops Building just inside the chain link gate. (This is NOT a Wetlands information office. You can pick up your brochures there, right inside the front door, but then just go about your business!) You'll keep driving through the water tanks and trucks, following a few signs, until you reach a parking lot with two handy portolets. You can park and then ride your bicycle or hike, or you can just keep on driving on the berm roads around the cells and lake, being sure to follow the arrows on the map above and provided in the Visitor’s Guide.

Photographer extraordinaire Charlie Corbeil was kind enough to give me a guided tour of the Wetlands a few weeks ago. Charlie goes to the Wetlands daily and knows it and its critters like the back of his hand. What you see depends upon what time of year it is, of course. We saw moorhens, coots, a red-bellied woodpecker, killdeer, grackles, great blue herons, otters, wood storks, anhingas, glossy ibis, white ibis, alligators, a pied-billed grebe, a least bittern, tri-color herons, and bald eagles, and those were just the ones I managed to write down! Early morning and late afternoon are best for bird-watching. Check out Charlie’s web site (see Reference Links) for some stunning, award-winning photographs of Wetlands inhabitants.

If you love birds and wildlife and nature and stunning landscape and beautiful sunrises and sunsets – this is the place for you. It’s Brevard’s version of a Magic Kingdom.

Viera Wetlands

Just the Facts

"BIG PICTURE" LOCATION: Central Brevard, Mainland, Viera

WHEN TO GO: Sunrise to Sunset, Monday through Sunday. If there has been a lot of rain, you might want to call to see if the berm roads are open. 321-637-5521

HOW TO GET THERE: From Wickham Road and I-95, keep going west, past Wal-Mart, straight through the only roundabout in Brevard County (there to preserve the tree). Keep going straight for about two miles, past the Church of Viera, Duran Golf Course, and Heritage Isles. Focus on that huge cell tower straight ahead. Drive in through the chain link gate. If you need a Visitor's Guide, stop at the Ops Bldg. Then drive through the trucks and tanks, following the speed limit. (Click on photos to enlarge.) map

WHERE TO PARK: There’s a parking lot if you plan to bicycle or hike. Otherwise, just drive in along the berm roads.

WHAT TO WEAR: If you plan to tour the Wetlands via automobile, you can wear your Sunday best! Otherwise, wear comfortable shoes. Remember sunscreen, water, and mosquito repellant if you plan to walk or bicycle around the cells and lake.

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: One of the wonderful aspects of the Wetlands is that you can remain in your automobile and take pictures out the car window. There are also a couple of benches where you can sit and admire the view and the critters. There are portolets in the parking lot.

HOW LONG TO STAY: It does not take long to drive around the cells and lake, so how long you stay depends on how intrigued you are with all the wildlife. If you rush, you’ll miss a lot. I’d plan on at least an hour, and longer if you plan to take photographs.

WHAT TO DO: You can drive, walk, or bicycle. It is a wildlife photographer’s heaven, and you don’t need to be a professional to get some beautiful pictures. This is Florida – our wildlife has been trained to pose for photos! There’s an observation tower and a gazebo near the lake.

You can even walk your dog, but pets must remain attended and on leashes at all times. Be advised that there are alligators – pay attention to the signage and keep yourself and your pet on the road. Swimming, wading, hunting, or fishing are NOT allowed.

BRING MONEY? No, this is FREE!

WHERE TO EAT AFTERWARDS: Head back to the tree roundabout and bear left. You’ll arrive at The Avenue Viera, with shopping and restaurants. Or, travel straight down Wickham - there are numerous restaurants close by.

HOW TO HELP: Do not drive on the turf. Stay on designated roadways. Do not annoy the wildlife. Follow the Principles of Birding Ethics. Don’t hog the berm road – if you’re going to stop, pull over as far as you safely can. And of course, don’t litter.

REFERENCE LINKS:
Viera Wetlands
Viera Wetlands Visitor’s Guide
Brevard County Utility Services, Reclaimed Water Information
Berms
Charlie Corbeil
The Avenue Viera
Principles of Birding Ethics

A LITTLE EXTRA:
This sign at the entrance to the Rich Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera features a photograph taken by my guide, Charlie Corbeil (shown here).

Ulumay Park Wildlife Sanctuary - Making a Difference

Today was the dedication of the Ulumay Park Wildlife Sanctuary historical marker. Nice weather, nice crowd, lovely marker - but what stands out in my mind is what it took to reach this point. How did this beautiful chunk of land that was home to Ais Indians 400 years ago become a park accessible to all, with a marker that establishes its place in history?

I love a collaborative effort, and this is a good one. Back in 1970, the land was designated a Brevard County Park. In 1993, the Brevard County Historical Commission dedicated the Sanctuary as a historical landmark. In 2008, the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program purchased property adjoining the Sanctuary. About a year ago, Friends of Ulumay was organized. In late 2008, the Friends and the Historical Commission worked together to obtain the designation of the Sanctuary as a Florida Heritage Landmark. The Tourism Development Council paid for the marker.

All of these contributing/participating organizations were represented at this morning's ceremony. Guest speakers Dr. David Paterno (Chairman of the Brevard County Historical Commission), David Biega (President of Friends of Ulumay), and Commissioner Chuck Nelson (Brevard County, District 2) gave short, heart-felt speeches (shown in photo, left to right, after the unveiling). Jack Masson, Central Area Parks Operations Manager, served as a genial MC.

There was some dandy music - Joseph & Lynn Gray, shown here with their banjo-playing friend Tom Dundis, played their original composition, Ulumay. (You can hear them perform their song on the Friends of Ulumay web site in the downloadable slideshow. You can reach them at aspecialoccasionmusic@yahoo.com - nice people and talented musicians.) The Indian River Anthropological Society had an interesting display of artifacts and information. A Sheriff's Office Deputy directed traffic. A lot of people did their part to make this a nice event.

There was a great deal of mutual respect shown throughout the speeches and in the mingling before and after. Friends of Ulumay (shown above) may be a relatively new group, but it has garnered the admiration and appreciation of the Brevard County Parks & Recreation Department.

Over the past 39 years, enough people have cared about preserving and protecting this piece of Florida that today we were able to gather and celebrate another chapter in its history. We thank them for their efforts. Job well done!

(Read all about the Sanctuary itself - how to get there, what to expect - in the March 8 post.)

You can't holler down my rain barrel ...

If you are lucky enough to have had a Grandmother that sang to you, you may remember these words:

You can't holler down my rain barrel,
You can't climb my apple tree,
I don't want to play in your yard,
If you won't be good to me.

I thought of this old song (circa 1894) when Margie and I were at Enchanted Forest a few weeks ago and saw this lovely rain barrel (fortunately, Margie snapped this photo - click to enlarge so you can see all the details).

Then I happened upon more rain barrels during my visit to The Green Marketplace last weekend (full field trip report coming soon). In talking with Sylvia Eppig (shown above), who sells her barrels at there, I mentioned that a young friend had constructed rain barrels for his Eagle Scout project a few years ago. He donated them to his Mom's garden club, and the garden club sold them to raise funds for their community activities. With the usual six degrees of separation, it turns out that Sylvia got her first barrel at that garden club sale and was so taken with it that she started making them herself!

When I spent summers on the farm with my Grandmother, we pumped drinking water by hand, but collected rainwater for washing our hair, as it was much softer water. These days, rainwater is more likely to be collected for watering plants and lawns. According to the Naturewise web site, Rain barrels are an easy way to collect the rain water that runs off your roof top and hold the water until you are ready to use it. Rain water is better for plants than municipal water, as it has not been treated with chemicals, and it contains lots of great micronutrients for plants. Rain barrels are easy to install, and can be as easy as just placing them under a valley where water collects and runs off. The barrels also help prevent soil erosion from water splashing on the ground.

This photo shows Connor in the production phase of his Eagle Scout project.

And here's Connor (waaay in the back) with the fruits of his labor. He was justifiably pleased when I called to tell him about Sylvia Eppig starting her affair with rain barrels after purchasing one of his! (Thanks to Connor's Dad for the photos.)

During my rain barrel research, I came across an interesting Wiki-type site titled Demesne. There are directions for making your own barrels there, or you can attend one of the rain barrel-making workshops held here in Brevard County fairly frequently - I'll start including them in my Calendar of Events. Or, you can visit The Green Marketplace and get one of Sylvia's!

Ulumay Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony

See the March 8 Ulumay field trip post for directions. We'll see you there!

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is an important component of our Brevard County economy, responsible for millions of dollars in revenue yearly. The International Ecotourism Society definition of ecotourism is Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Now that's what I call a clearly-defined goal, and one that is apropos for the Space Coast in its pursuit of tourists. But it is an equally suitable goal for local residents as well - in these economic times, that definition could just as well apply to a "stay-cation" in Brevard County. It was with these thoughts in mind that I have settled (at least for now) on a field trip format for this blog. We have a marvelously diverse selection of free outdoor opportunities here - bicycle trails, hiking trails, locations perfect for kayaking, birding spots, thinking spots - on and on and on. Do you remember that little tingle of excitement you felt when the teacher announced a field trip? I hope you'll try some of the field trips I describe here and let me know how they work out for you.

If you are interested in ecotourism and like well-reasoned, well-written material, I have a blog to recommend to you. Megan Epler Wood was one of the founders of The International Ecotourism Society and is a 20-year veteran and pioneer of the ecotourism movement. She now owns her own company and advises business and governments on the development of sustainable tourism and ecotourism. She travels to places the rest of us just read about, and her web site is an education in itself. But the good part is that she has started a blog to document a new project. The introductory material for A Day in the Life of an Ecotourist Consultant reads as follows: Follow Megan Epler Wood on her journey to Bangladesh where she will develop an ecotourism strategy for the Teknaf Peninsula on the Bay of Bengal. This far-flung peninsula borders Burma, and is becoming a target for rapid local development. Forest reserves here harbor the threatened Bengal tiger. Now that's what I call a tough assignment, but interestingly enough, as I read her postings, much of what she talks about is relevant locally - does target for rapid local development sound familiar? A threatened critter? But what intrigued me was the idea of a strategy - you gotta love a plan. And in thinking about it, I decided that Brevard County has been pretty forward thinking in its ecotourism strategy, thanks in part to the voter-supported Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program , the Archie Carr Refuge, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, etc. and some of the Conservation Heroes that have fought to conserve and preserve the natural wonders of our Space Coast.

We have a perfect Florida weekend on the horizon - blue skies and low 80's - get out there and enjoy it! (If you're lucky, you may even spot a screech owl like the one in Jim Angy's photo. )

Enchanted Forest Sanctuary Field Trip

Back in the late 1960s, I drove to work through a portion of the Enchanted Forest. Co-workers and I would compare notes as to what wild critters we saw on our way in. Back then, we didn’t give much thought to over-development or land preservation – we focused on astronauts and moon walks.

Fast-forward to 1990, when Brevard County citizens approved a referendum for funding the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, charged with acquiring environmentally sensitive land and making it available to the public through passive recreation and environmental education. Under the able direction of friend Dr. Duane De Freese, the first phase of the EEL Program was to identify and acquire these sensitive lands, and the Enchanted Forest property was the first acquisition. When the development phase of the Program kicked in, the Enchanted Forest was chosen to be the “Flagship” sanctuary.

The Just the Facts section below will tell you the basics of how to get there and what to expect. I want to talk here about how “enchanting” this Sanctuary really is. From the moment you turn off the main road, you’ll start to unwind. Even the parking lot is mellow. The Education Center houses hands-on exhibits, a cozy library, a dandy gift shop, classrooms, and restrooms. A huge screened-in porch provides room for mosquito-free activities. Benches are tucked around a landscape dotted with big coquina boulders. My photo does not do it justice, but it should help you get an idea of the thought and love that went into this design.

When friend Margie and I attended the Archeology Month Kickoff Event, we viewed the exhibits set up in the screened-in porch, watched an atlatl demonstration, and took a guided hike led by Volunteer Joe Zayas (in this photo, Joe is the fellow in the blue shirt). Joe is a founding member of the Sanctuary and knows it like the back of his hand. We got a smattering of geology, history, biology, botany, and wildlife information, but even more so, I think Joe left everybody with a greater understanding of the importance of preservation and conservation. He has been involved with the preservation of Enchanted Forest for over 20 years, and certainly qualifies for my designation of Conservation Hero!

In previous posts, we spoke of habitat in general and scrub habitat specifically. The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary includes five basic habitat types: oak scrub, mesic and hydric, hammock, wet prairie, and pine flatwood. Fortunately, as you approach the Education Center building, you can pick up a little green booklet titled “Exploring Biodiversity – Self-Guided Hike” to use during your visit. It’s an easy-to-read booklet with great, useful information – be sure to pick one up. (That’s friend Margie standing by a Hike Desk with literature that includes the booklet.) Guided tours are also offered, and you’ll find the staff and volunteers to be friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.

Margie and I have lived in Florida for so long that we were amazed to find that the Sanctuary actually has hills. Joe explained that this high ground is an ancient coastal dune, part of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, and that we were about 30 feet above sea level, standing on one of the highest points in Brevard County. What fun stuff to think about, and the children in the group seemed fascinated by the possibilities.

I can’t begin to tell you everything we saw, heard, and learned on our hike – Margie and I took so many photos that I’ve included a slideshow (far right column). This is a wonderful place to spend the day – don’t miss it!

ENCHANTED FOREST SANCTUARY

JUST THE FACTS

"BIG PICTURE" LOCATION: North Brevard, Mainland, Titusville

WHEN TO GO: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day)

HOW TO GET THERE: 444 Columbia Boulevard, Titusville, Florida
From I-95 southbound: take SR-50 to first light, turn right and go east 4 miles on SR-405. The Sanctuary entrance is on the north side of SR-405 across from the Space Coast Regional Airport. From I-95 northbound: take SR-407 north to SR-405 and go east through two lights. The entrance is on the north side of SR-405, 0.25 miles past the second light.
From US Hwy 1: the entrance is 0.5 miles west of US Hwy 1 on SR-405.

WHERE TO PARK: There is a spacious parking lot.

WHAT TO WEAR: You’ll be hiking through sand, so wear comfortable shoes. Depending on the time of year you visit, remember sunscreen, water, and mosquito repellant.

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: The Education Center includes a feature called Enchanted Crossing – an interpretive nature trail with a stabilized surface for universal accessibility. The trails through the Sanctuary are soft sand and there are some inclines, so take your physical limitations into consideration as you are planning your hike. Ask the Staff for recommendations if you have concerns. There are some benches and rocks along the way for sitting. Bathroom facilities are in the Education Center building.

HOW LONG TO STAY: If you have brought food along, you could easily spend the better part of the day wandering around, sitting and contemplating life, etc., but it all depends on how much you want to see and learn.

WHAT TO DO: Hike, sit and enjoy the view, look at the educational exhibits in the Center, take a guided tour – lots of possibilities.

BRING MONEY?: The Sanctuary is free, but the Gift Shop in the Center has some neat things to buy.

WHERE TO EAT AFTERWARDS: Margie and I finished our day by eating at the iconic Dixie Crossroads, an attraction in its own right! Co-owned by local environmentalist Laurilee Thompson, its offerings include different types of shrimp harvested by their own fleet, and you’ll start your meal with a basket of corn fritters that are totally addictive. Their papergoods are biodegradable. You’ll see a quote by Laurilee in the We Think section of this site.

HOW TO HELP: Don’t litter, and respect these sensitive lands. Support the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program if you are a Brevard County voter. Volunteers are essential to the Sanctuary, so lend a hand.

REFERENCE LINKS:
Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Friends of Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Environmentally Endangered Lands Program
coquina
Florida Archeology Month
atlatl
habitats
Dixie Crossroads

Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary Field Trip

First, a bit of history. Ulumay Park Wildlife Sanctuary on Merritt Island was home to Ais Indians four centuries ago. The land was designated a Brevard County Park in 1970. In 1993, the Brevard County Historical Commission dedicated the Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary as a historical landmark. In July 2008, the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program purchased property adjoining the park, and about a year ago, Friends of Ulumay organized to preserve and enhance the natural resources of the Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary. What a role model of collaborative effort for the common good!

On December 17, 2008, The State Bureau of Historic Preservation, working with the Brevard County Historical Commission Manager Stephen R. Benn and Friends of Ulumay Vice-President Jack Lembeck, announced the designation of the Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary as a Florida Heritage Landmark. The Landmark marker will be dedicated at the Ulumay entrance on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at 11:00 A.M.

Enough history. It was a beautiful Florida day, and my guides on this field trip were Vince Lamb and the aforementioned Jack Lembeck, both core members of Friends of Ulumay, and Charlie Corbeil, whose photos you often see in Beach Buzz blog posts.

See Just the Facts below on how to get to Ulumay. In this photo, Vince, Charlie, and Jack are standing by the gate you'll see shortly after you turn in. This is the entrance to the trails. Once you are inside, turn to the left for a four-mile trail or to the right for a two-mile trail. (The trails are not a loop, so when you get to the end of one of the trails, turn around and come back to the entrance.) You can ride your bicycle or just hoof it. Since the Sanctuary is located on Sykes Creek, if you are a kayaker, this is a wonderful destination.

Midway through the four-mile trail is a rustic viewing tower. The great blue heron on the top rail is optional! You'll see a variety of birds, but my favorite "find" was a black racer snake sunning himself.

This 1,200 acre Sanctuary is in the middle of Merritt Island housing developments, but once you get into it, it's as quiet and remote as any wilderness. It is a great place to go to "get away from it all" without having to travel far, buy a ticket, or stand in line. There are no bathroom facilities, and you'll want to take water and wear a hat. Jack and Vince tell me the mosquitoes are fierce there in the summer, in spite of mosquito control efforts. (This IS Florida, and the Sanctuary is bordered by water.)

Please take the time to look at the Friends of Ulumay web site that Vince has developed, and if you're local, consider getting involved with the organization. These folks are certainly on my list of Conservation Heroes!

THE ULUMAY PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - JUST THE FACTS

"BIG PICTURE" LOCATION: Central Brevard, Island, Merritt Island

WHEN TO GO: 7 a.m. until dark, 7 days a week. Fall and winter are most comfortable times to go.

HOW TO GET THERE: Turn north onto Sykes Creek Parkway at the Steak and Shake across from Merritt Square Mile. Travel one mile until you see a row of these road signs. Turn in.

WHERE TO PARK: Park along the dirt road.

WHAT TO WEAR: You'll be walking along sandy paths, so wear comfortable shoes and long pants. Remember sunscreen, water, and mosquito repellant unless it is cool and breezy.

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: The trail to the left is mostly soft sand. The trail to the right is a little firmer, but I would not want to call it wheelchair accessible. There is currently no place to sit, and there are no bathroom facilities.

HOW LONG TO STAY: How long you stay depends on how far you want to hike or bike or kayak.

WHAT TO DO: Hike or bike the four-mile path or the two-mile path, or kayak in Sykes Creek.

BRING MONEY? No, this is free!

WHERE TO EAT AFTERWARDS: There are numerous places to eat around Merritt Square Mall, or you can ease on up to Cocoa Village by heading west on the 520. map

HOW TO HELP? Don't litter. Don't harrass the birds or critters. If you are local or a visitor, consider attending a Friends of Ulumay meeting and getting involved with the organization. They have some wonderful ideas for this Sanctuary and could certainly use your help.

Cruickshank Sanctuary Field Trip

I have ready access to lots of great photos – all belonging to other people! When friend Wayne pointed out that those photos allowed me to experience nature vicariously, so to speak, I decided he might have a point. So off we went to the Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary , I with trusty nine-year-old camera in hand.

I have an unabashed admiration for the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program that Brevard County voters approved in 1990 and re-approved in 2000. Its mission is to protect the natural habitats of Brevard County by acquiring environmentally sensitive lands for conservation, passive recreation, and environmental education. The property for the Cruickshank Sanctuary was acquired in 1994 and named in honor of Helen and Allan Cruickshank, master birders and photographers, long-time Brevard residents, and early supporters of anything related to nature.

The 140-acre Cruickshank Sanctuary is nestled in the middle of a Rockledge neighborhood and features a one-mile hiking trail. As you can see from the first photo, it is scrub habitat, with some freshwater marshes thrown in for good measure – just the kind of place that a Florida scrub jay family likes to call home. (It is also the kind of place developers like to call subdivisions, so scrub jay habitat has decreased as subdivisions have increased.) Florida scrub jays are very picky about where they live – they want scrub habitat that burns often enough to maintain a tree height of 3 – 10 feet tall. (The EEL Program conducts prescribed burns to keep this type of habitat scrub jay and gopher tortoise- friendly.) It does not migrate or even take vacations.

Scrub jays are such cool birds – they mate for life, wait until they are responsible adults to breed, live in cooperative family groups that may include non-married kids and birds adopted from other families, and seem to like people. Some of the family members are identified as “helpers.” Each family stakes out about 25 acres, which it defends against other families. They set up a watch system wherein the helpers stand guard against predators and defend the family territory. Their diet includes seeds, insects, caterpillars, frogs, young mice, and lots and lots and lots of acorns (from the scrub oak trees) that they bury beneath the sand to eat during the winter months.

The Florida scrub jay is Florida’s only endemic bird. Loss of habitat has resulted in continuous scrub jay population loss, and they are now legally protected as a Threatened Species. As such, is it illegal to feed them (word on the street is that the scrub jays are not crazy about this restriction – they like their peanuts and sunflower seeds in the shell).

What fun! It was a perfect day for a mild hike – 70 degrees, sunny, and blue skies. It was just us and the critters. Wayne pointed out some of the plants typical of this sandy scrub habitat – shiny blackberry, gallberry, fetter bush, broom sedge, myrtle oak, sand live oak, saw palmetto, and pine. We saw a mockingbird, some osprey, even a pileated woodpecker. Nice day, good company, interesting plants - all well and good, but where were the scrub jays? We had walked the one-mile path and were headed back towards the entrance when here they came – five lovely scrub jays that swooped in to land on hands, arms, and hats. What a rare treat to have one of these critters sitting on your finger - the only word I can think to use in describing them is “dear.” The family/helper structure was very evident – one stood guard while the other four visited with us. At some point, another took up the guard position and the first guard was free to explore. There was not the first sign of quarreling over who got to sit where – these birds had impeccable manners (tee hee).

The rest of the photos are mine, but this "glamour shot" is Wayne Matchett's - what a beautiful bird! (Be sure to click on all the pictures to enlarge.)

If you want to spend a pleasant hour communing with nature up-close and personal, without need of preparation and long drives, the Cruickshank Sanctuary is certain to put a smile on your face!

THE CRUICKSHANK SANCTUARY - JUST THE FACTS

"BIG PICTURE" LOCATION: Central Brevard, Mainland, Rockledge

WHEN TO GO: Sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week.

HOW TO GET THERE: 360 Barnes Blvd, Rockledge (from US #1, go west 0.4 miles on Barnes) – right now, there is no sign, so here is a picture of the entrance. Map

WHERE TO PARK: Contrary to what the outdated brochure states, there is a nice parking lot.

WHAT TO WEAR: You’ll be hiking the one-mile path through scrub, so wear comfortable shoes and long pants. Unless it is wintertime, give some thought to mosquito repellant. Remember sunscreen and water.

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: Not wheelchair accessible, and the trail is soft sand. No place to sit. No bathroom facilities.

HOW LONG TO STAY: Depending on how many photographs you take, plan on an hour to hike the trail.

WHAT TO DO: Watch for gopher tortoises and scrub jays. Listen for the “guard” scrub jays. Admire the scrub habitat and notice what it consists of. Speak in normal tones (don't yell and run around), and it is likely the scrub jays will find you.

BRING MONEY? No, like all EEL sanctuaries, this is FREE!

WHERE TO EAT AFTERWARDS: Head west on Barnes (past Murrell Road, before Fiske Blvd) until you reach the Turtle Creek Golf Club (see above Map). Jimmie’s Restaurant is in the Clubhouse – good food, friendly service, reasonable prices. (It used to be on US#1, so don’t be misled by old maps/internet information.)

HOW TO HELP? Don’t feed the scrub jays. Don’t litter. Don’t harass the birds or critters. If you are local, volunteer with the EEL Program. If you live near the Sanctuary, keep your cats inside.

A LITTLE EXTRA: I've lived in Brevard County since the 1960s, and the Cruickshank name was very familiar to me, but I didn't remember much about them. Wayne told me that Allan Cruickshank was a Scot, a master photographer, an entertaining speaker with a wry sense of humor, and a leader in the local Audubon Society. In my on-line research, I found a couple of wonderful articles about Mr. Cruickshank in the Sports Illustrated Vault, describing Cocoa Christmas Bird Count activities - one article from 1956 and one from 1971. Really interesting reading about a time past

Scrub Habitat

Scrub habitat was formed on ancient dunes and is the oldest land habitat in Florida. Unfortunately, it is well-suited for development and agricultural use, so over two-thirds of the original scrub land in Florida has already disappeared. The excellent University of Florida Florida 4-H Forest Ecology site that I treasure for habitat information explains that Scrub ecosystems are a valuable natural resource, not only because they are an important habitat for wildlife but because they act as recharge areas for the water table.

Scrub habitat is dependent on fire to keep from too getting overgrown for the animals that use it. Lightning is the natural way for fire to start in scrub habitat, but these days, prescribed burns are frequently used. This being Florida, it does not take long for the plants to start new growth. This is scrub vegetation three weeks after a prescribed burn.

This photo of Jim's shows a gopher tortoise in front of the tunnel it has dug in the white sand characteristic of this habitat. Their tunnels are 15 - 20 feet in length, with a chamber at the end large enough for the reptile to turn around. Other critters often use the gopher tortoise tunnels for shelter.

Scrub lizards are common in some areas of scrub habitat. They can climb, but are more often found on the ground in search of their favorite food - ants! Scrub lizards are about six inches long. Males can be distinguished by the bright blue markings on their neck, sides, and abdomen. These lizards hunt insects in leaf litter, where they are cryptic (camouflaged). If they are not moving around, it's easy to miss them. Skinks, indigo snakes, and Florida mice live here, too, although you may not see them.

In a field trip post about the Cruickshank Sanctuary, we'll talk about the scrub jays that make this habitat home. Other birds include the rufous-sided towhee, ground doves, mourning doves, woodpeckers, and screech owls. Critters that make their home in the scrub include raccoons, wild hog, cottontail rabbits, and deer.

Take another look at that first photo - not what you typically see on a Florida postcard. Who would have thought that all these wonderful critters could be found in something called scrub!

(Photos by Jim Angy. Click to enlarge.)

Brevard County - The Big Picture

Welcome to Brevard County, Florida, home to some 532,000 people. You will also hear it called Florida’s Space Coast. But it doesn’t matter what you call it– it's a great place to visit.

This map is courtesy of Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism. Click to enlarge it. Brevard County is 72 miles long, and we typically describe things as being in North Brevard, Central Brevard, or South Brevard, as well as beachside, mainland, or island. Starting at the north and traveling down U. S. 1, you'll find Scottsmoore, Mims, Titusville, and Port St. John, all mainland towns that border the Indian River. The northern part of Merritt Island and the beachside part of North Brevard encompass the Kennedy Space Center.

Central Brevard consists of Cocoa and Rockledge on the mainland, the town of Merritt Island, and the beachside towns of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, and Patrick Air Force Base. Notice that Merritt Island has the Indian River on the west side and the Banana River on the east side; these two rivers merge at the tip of Merritt Island and are then referred to collectively as the Indian River. The whole system comprises a lagoon.

South Brevard consists of Viera, Suntree, Palm Shores, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Malabar, Valkaria, Grant, Micco, and Sebastian on the mainland side. Beachside, you'll find Satellite Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Melbourne Shores, and Sebastian Inlet.

The bridges connecting the mainland, island, and beach towns are referred to as causeways - the 528 (or Beachline) Causeway at the north end of Cocoa, the 520 (or Bennett) Causeway at the south end of Cocoa, the Pineda Causeway between Rockledge and Melbourne, the Eau Gallie Causeway in mid-Melbourne, and the Melbourne Causeway between Melbourne and Palm Bay. After the Melbourne Causeway, there is not another access to the beach from US #1 until County Road 510 on the north end of Vero Beach.

North/south routes are I-95 and U.S. #1 on the mainland, A1A beachside, and Wickham Road and Babcock in South Brevard. East/west routes are Highway 46 in Mims, Highway 50 in Titusville, 528 (also known as the Beachline) and 520 in Central Brevard, and Eau Gallie Boulevard, 192, Palm Bay Road, and Malabar Road in South Brevard.

The Just the Facts section of the field trips described in this blog will give you a "big picture" location - for example, the Enchanted Forest big picture location is North Brevard, mainland, Titusville. The location information is also included in the labels at the very end of each post, and you can click on a label to display related posts.

The Nature of Central Florida's Habitats

Several years ago, we did a Still Nature digital nature photo album about Central Florida's habitats. Every time I look at it, I'm so proud of the information it contains and the beautiful Jim Angy photographs it displays. Now I have even more reason to like it - it provides me with fodder for this blog!

Matt labored long and hard over this map that shows the general distribution of habitats (be sure to click to enlarge - lots of good information there). As we speak of our Space Coast habitats in future posts, we'll include beaches and lagoons, as well as the scrub, pine flatwood, and freshwater wetlands noted on the map.

Knowing an area's habitat is important, because it determines what flora and fauna you will see when you visit. So as we talk habitat, we'll talk critters and plants, too.

Eco-What?

Readers of my other blog, Space Coast Beach Buzz, have pointed out that I've strayed from reporting on just beach-related stuff. That being true, I decided to broaden my scope with this new blog and talk about Brevard County eco-activities in general. The focus will be providing visitors and local folks with enough information that they can enjoy our natural attractions the first time they go, without saying "next time, I'll ..."

For starters, we'll talk a little about the Space Coast's habitats and their critters, and we'll take some field trips. I've been playing around with a field trip format for the past month - let me know if you use it and what you think.

(Photo by Wayne Matchett)