INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Rare white pelicans, endangered wood storks, and more than 30 other majestic water bird species flock to Indian River County each year, roosting and nesting in the plentiful treetops and mangroves of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Currently encompassing 5,400 acres, the refuge teems with birds, fish and a variety of threatened and endangered wildlife that in some cases owe their very existence to environmental visionaries.
In the late 1800s, Florida alone was losing five million birds each year to the millinery industry.
To ward off poachers, Paul Kroegel, a German immigrant living in Sebastian, would sail over to the little five-acre island rookery, just north of what is now Windsor, to stand armed guard.
Krogel garnered support from likeminded individuals including Frank Chapman, curator of the American Museum of Natural History Museum and even from an ecological group of Boston socialites whose afternoon ladies tea parties evolved into the National Audubon Society.
As a result of their efforts, in March 1903 the National Wildlife Refuge system was established and President Theodore Roosevelt enacted Pelican Island as the first National Wildlife Refuge and Kroegel as the first refuge manager.
Sixty years later, the actions of another conservationist would expedite laws to protect all Florida wetlands, beginning with those adjacent to the barrier island in the Indian River Lagoon.
Concerned that wetland overdevelopment would negatively impact the area, the late Joe Michael organized the Indian River Area Preservation League, precursor to the Pelican Island Audubon Society. His determined efforts to halt dredging and filling of lagoon wetlands, eventually led to the end of state-owned wetland sales in Florida.
To further curb overdevelopment, Michael established the Town of Orchid, and encouraged fellow grove owners to follow his lead and sell their lands to the refuge.
Today the refuge encompasses not only the five-acre island north of Windsor, but a full 5,400 acres of former barrier island groves, natural mangrove islands, spoil islands and submerged aquatic land stretching from the Wabasso Bridge, to just shy of the Sebastian Inlet.
To assist with their ever present ecological efforts, rangers at the sanctuary are eager to entice some of the many wingless snowbirds and permanent residents who, similar to the migrating birds, have been attracted to the temperate climate of this community.
Staff at the new Pelican Island administration building also manages the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and the Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, and with cutbacks in staff and funding, volunteer assistance is critical.
“People are aware of national parks because they’re managed for people,” said Keenan Adams, Assistant Refuge Manager. “We actually manage more acreage than the parks service. But the joke is, ducks don’t vote. We do get significantly less than the parks service. That’s why volunteers are integral; we would not survive without volunteers.”
Curiously, despite its 32963 ZIP Code, the majority of Pelican Island volunteers reside in Sebastian and Melbourne. Some come from even further away.
Volunteers from cities all over the country converged on the refuge this fall to assist as part of a week-long Sierra Club excursion, organized each year by longtime volunteer and Melbourne resident Suzanne Valencia.
“She’s one of our outstanding volunteers; she just does so much work on the refuge,” said Kevin Lowry, the newly appointed visitor services manager. “It’s often the same volunteers. I’m currently trying to recruit volunteers and train them for environmental education interpretation and outreach programs.”
Lowry hopes to attract a new audience through a Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Facebook page he developed saying, “I think it’s only going to get better once we can get a core group of volunteers spreading the word of their accomplishments.”
A wide variety of volunteer jobs, from physical outdoor gardening and maintenance work to more sedentary indoor administrative duties, are available and hours are very flexible.
“Any assistance we can get is going to be greatly appreciated,” said Lowry.
Outdoor duties include invasive species eradication and various habitat restoration projects, all aimed at returning the former citrus groves back into a maritime hammock.
“We have a lot of open fields that just need to be mowed; it involves just getting on a tractor and mowing,” said Lowry, explaining that at his previous refuge some people enjoyed mowing the grass seven days a week. “That’s their way of relaxing. Others want to relax by leading a bird hike.”
Those who want to interact with the public might want to become trained as floating interpreters along the trails or as greeters at an eventual visitor center.
“Those volunteers would serve a great role in educating the visitors,” explained Lowry. “It could be an overall naturalist role, explaining wildlife and plants and the refuge system. It’s outdoors but not as physical.”
“We’re actively searching for volunteers of all ages, all backgrounds. We’re willing to train in various areas; we have a lot of opportunities for people to learn things and teach others. Skilled birders could teach other volunteers about birding, and retired teachers could teach a core group of volunteers.”
Butterflies dart among the wildflowers along a ¾-mile paved Centennial Trail which ambles past freshwater lakes and smaller ephemeral ponds that help create food sources and an ecologically diverse wildlife habitat.
“It would be wonderful to have a volunteer come out and lead butterfly walks. It’s not just the maintenance side of pulling weeds in the Butterfly Garden, it’s delivering the message we’re trying to get out about pollinators. There are always projects coming up pertaining to biology, such as habitat restoration for beach mice and sea turtles. It’s an opportunity to be exposed to biology.”
Future plans also include the establishment of environmental education and interpretation programs for children and their families as well as adult only programs.
“I’m passionate about using the refuge as an outdoor laboratory. It’s a natural wildlife refuge; it’s about wildlife first. It’s not intended to be a park; it’s intended to be wild with a biodiversity. We want to take them out of the classroom and expose them to something new.
“We can have interpretive signage, but there’s nothing like having someone who’s a great storyteller. There’s so much history here; it’s how the whole system got started. I can’t stress it enough; it’s a powerful story. Being able to recruit gifted storytellers is just priceless.”
The nation’s other wildlife refuges are represented on planks of a boardwalk that leads to an observation tower with sweeping views of the Lagoon and Pelican Island.
Two 2½-mile coquina trails loop through the salt marsh habitat into fairly remote areas, and periodic driving tours of the Joe Michael Trail offer access to those unable to hike the trails.
Access to the refuge is simplest from A1A at the northern end of Jungle Trail. Southern Jungle Trail access at CR 510, which winds through the backyards of the Orchid and Windsor developments, isn’t advised unless your vehicle is a Jeep or a junker; the road is not well maintained and can be treacherous.