Migrating birds often face a grueling trip as they travel thousands of miles from their northern homes in search of a warm-winter oasis. Now the town of Indialantic hopes to make their journey a little easier by offering a welcoming rest stop along the route.
During last month’s meeting, the town council unanimously approved the installation of a new water feature designed to attract songbirds to Orlando Park. The idea was introduced a few months ago, when several local birders including Scott Ward, Tom Ledford, and Mike Dunn – along with Councilman Dick Dunn – came up with the idea for a water feature that would provide a safe spot where migrating birds could refresh and rehydrate.
After sharing the idea with Town Manager Mike Casey, who agreed it was a worthwhile project, it was placed on the council agenda and passed, with the caveat that the $500 cost of construction would be covered completely by public donations.
Ward, who has lived on Orlando Boulevard, right next to the park for 25 years, already offered to help fund the project.
Referring to Orlando Park as “the finest birding area for migrating songbirds in Indialantic,” Ward sent an email to councilmembers last month, advocating for the water feature.
“A water feature would provide critical fresh water to migrant birds thus helping them survive their journey to and from Central America. Migrating songbirds love shallow, flowing water, like a miniature rippling stream, they simply can’t resist shallow, slowly flowing water after a long migration leg,” Ward said. “No ponds necessary or desired – songbirds don’t prefer them – just a small, burbling, rocky bulge, located under or near trees, close to cover so birds can fly out and back to safety quickly but far enough away so ambush-minded cats can’t hide.”
In the 1980s scientists began to note a decline in the migratory bird population. Earlier this month, research published in Science magazine called the bird population decline in North America “staggering” with a loss of nearly 3 billion birds over the last 50 years.
Many experts point to habitat loss and degradation as the main reason. But there are other threats. Although the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to capture, kill or possess certain birds, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that many still are – including large numbers of songbirds that are sold on the black market or kept as pets.
A few weeks ago the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced new rules aimed specifically at protecting Florida’s native songbirds from illegal capture by prohibiting bird traps without a permit and enacting stiffer penalties for infractions.
According to the Space Coast Audubon Society thousands of birds, comprised of more than 330 species, migrate through Florida in fall from their northern homes. Some stay here for the duration and others travel further along to reach hotspots in the Caribbean and Central and South America – then they make the journey home again in spring.
Work on the new stone sculpture fountain will begin in January and be completed the same month. It will incorporate a fresh water reservoir and a circulating pump and will be located at the southwest side of the park.
