As Lemon Bay Conservancy and our partners completed the habitat restoration at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve in 2020, we created two small islands. One is in freshwater Long Pond on the eastern side of the preserve. The other is in the new estuarine lagoon on the western side of the preserve that receives tidal flow from Lemon Creek. Our goal for the islands is to turn them into future rookery sites for nesting birds.
We are currently seeking volunteer help and donations to develop the western island, with a specific focus on trying to attract Wood Storks. The island has very little vegetation, so the basic idea is to build artificial nesting platforms that will create immediate nesting locations and, over time, to populate the island with native trees and shrubs that will provide future nesting habitat.
We are looking for one or more volunteers to become project leaders in designing and developing this project. If you would like to get involved, please contact the LBC office at 941-830-8922 or send us an email at LBConservancy@comcast.net.
We also are seeking funds to build the nesting platforms and purchase plants. Contact the office to make your special Rookery Island donation, or make your contribution online by clicking on this link: Rookery Island Donations.
If we build it, will the birds come? We look forward to finding out! Thank you for your support!