SFWMD Report: Record-Setting Wading Bird Nesting Season
May 16, 2019
More nests found in 2018 than any year since comprehensive surveying began due to favorable weather conditions and environmentally-minded water management decisions
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - The 2018 wading bird nesting season was one of the largest on record, according to the annual South Florida Wading Bird Report released today by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett and Avian Biologist Dr. Mark Cook were joined by Audubon Florida Executive Director Julie Wraithmell and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Regional Director Dr. Tom Reinert to announce the historic nesting success at Wakodahatchee Wetlands this morning.
"Today's news gives us tremendous hope because wading birds are indicator species. They show us that if the Greater Everglades Ecosystem has the right amount of water at the right times, it can rebound," Bartlett said. "Gov. Ron DeSantis has made expediting Everglades restoration a top priority for Florida, and his strong investments in restoration are the right path forward to protect Florida's water resources."