Bird use of agricultural fields at Lake Apopka, Florida, with recommendations for the management of migratory shorebirds and other species

Prepared by &

Bill Pranty and Gianfi-anco D. Basili ,,. - .,.. 1 ' 3 i..:=, -

: .l2 $?; a -. . -- - Florida Audubon Society -*

133 1 Palmetto Avenue Winter Park. Florida 32789

22 September 1998

This report has been prepared for all stakeholders in the Lake Apopka restoration effort:

St. Johns River Water Management District Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District

Florida Audubon Society and its 46 localchapters Friends of Lake Apopka

Florida Ornithological Society United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Canadian Fish and Wildlife Service Ducks Unlimited

Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network and

Residents of the communities surrounding Lake Apopka

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1

History of birding at the Zellwood farms .................................................................. 2

RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 3

Species diversity ........................................................................................................ 3

Species abundance ..................................................................................................... 4

DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

General overview of shorebird life history ............................................................... 5

Farming practices at Zellwood ................................................................................... 5

Consequences of long-term deep-flooding ................................................................ 6

Bird use of agricultural landscapes ............................................................................ 7

The importance of the Zellwood farms for migratory shorebirds .............................. 9

. . Pesticide use at Zellwood ........................................................................................... 9

Nature-based tourism and recreation at Zellwood ................................................... 10

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................ 1 1

Acreage .................................................................................................................... 1 1

Depth, timing, and duration of flooding .................................................................. 12

SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 13

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................. 14

LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................. 15

APPENDIX A: Bird list for the ellw wood' f m s ............................................................. 18

APPENDIX B: Annotated list of aquatic birds observed at the Zellwood farms.. . . .. .. . . . .20

INTRODUCTION

Within the past 50 years, much of Florida's coastal and estuarine habitats have been altered or destroyed for human uses, and farmland along the north shore of Lake Apopka-the Zellwood farm-has become an important foraging site for thousands of migratory shorebirds. Since the early 1960s, 38 species of shorebirds have been reported from the farms (Table I), which ranks Zellwood as the third most diverse shorebird site in Florida. Overall, at least 222 species of birds have occurred at Zellwood (Appendix A), including 14 listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Special Concern (Wood 1996). Most of the birds present in the area use habitats created by agricultural practices.

Large-scale farming of the Lake Apopka north shore began in the early 1940s. Farming practices included the flooding of fallow fields for weed and pest control. Excess water, which contained large amounts of phosphorus, was then pumped back into Lake Apopka. These drawdowns created mudflats and shallow-water foraging habitats that attracted large numbers of shorebirds, wading birds, and other aquatic species. By the mid-1960s, however, there was growing concern for pollution in the lake. Nevertheless, little action was taken until 1985. The Lake Apopka Restoration Act of 1985 provided hnding and strategies to improve water quality. In 1988, 5000 acres of farmland were acquired by the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) for $15 million to build a marsh flow-way to remove phosphates and suspended sediments from lake water. The Lake Apopka Restoration Act of 1996 provided $20 million to acquire additional farmland along the lake's north shore, and another $26 million was provided by the Federal Government. An additional $45 million was appropriated by the Florida Legislature in 1997. With this $91 million, the District has purchased over 13,000 additional acres of farmland.

In March 1998, the District convened a workshop in Winter Garden to present to the public, for the first time, their long-term plan to restore water quality in Lake Apopka. It was learned that during an initial five- or six-year period, the farms would be flooded with one to three feet of water. Following this, the levee that separates the farm fields from Lake Apopka would be breached, and the fields would be flooded to lake level. Because of soil subsidence resulting from years of farming, the fields are lower than the lake level. Therefore, once the lake levee is breached, the fields will be covered with four feet or more of water.

Birders, ornithologists, and wildlife managers became concerned that the District's plan did not address the impacts to birds using the farm fields. After deep-water flooding, the thousands of shorebirds, wading birds, and other aquatic species will lose critical foraging, breeding, and roosting habitats.

In May 1998, the District issued a brief report (Conrow [1998]) to address the loss of shorebird habitats at Zellwood. The report, which concluded against shorebird management, was done with limited information and contained an important error: the shorebirds at Zellwood repeatedly were called "wintering" birds. In fact, the vast majority of the shorebirds at Zellwood are migrants that pass through the area in late summer and fall on their way to wintering grounds in Central and South America. The Zellwood farms are a migration stopover site, and understanding this has important conservation implications, locally, regionally, and internationally.

Because we feel that Conrow's [I9981 report did not adequately address the issue of shorebird management of the Zellwood farming area, we have prepared this report to better inform those involved in the Lake Apopka restoration effort. We hope the information presented here will guide future restoration action. Specifically, we report on the use of shallow-flooded agricultural fields by resident wading birds and waterfowl, migratory waterfowl and other aquatic species, and especially by migratory shorebirds. We provide basic life history information of all aquatic species that use the farms, and summarize their local status. Lastly, we recommend methods for maintaining some of the shorebird foraging habitats at the Zellwood farming area following purchase of the farms by the District.

History of birding at the Zellwood farms

Although the farms and farms roads are privately owned, they have been open to birders as a courtesy for over 30 years. The hundreds of birding trips to the farms since the early 1960s are responsible for the wealth of knowledge we have about the birds of the area.

The first bird observations from the Zellwood farms were made in the early 1960s, with more reports through the 1970s. Following inclusion of the farms in every edition of A Birder's Guide to Florida (Lane 198 1,1984, and 1989, and Pranty 1996), the area annually has received a large volume of birders, mostly from midJuly to mid- September. Many Audubon societies and other birding groups, from central Florida and beyond, annually schedule one or more trips to the farms in late summer and fall to search for local "specialties" such as Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Black-necked Stilts, Upland, Pectoral, Stilt, and Buff-breasted sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes, and Black Terns. With so many experienced birders visiting the farms regularly, it is inevitable that very rare birds are found from time to time. When this occurs, many dozens to a few hundred birders from around the state can be expected to visit Zellwood. Some birders also visit the farms in spring and winter to observe species not present in fall. Additional winter observations have been made by participants of the Mount Dora Christmas Bird Count, which includes the Zellwood farming area.

We have compiled a list of the birds known to have occurred at Zellwood, based on our own records, and those of other birders we contacted. These lists concentrate on wading birds, shorebirds, and other aquatic species observed in the flooded farm fields, but include all other species observed in dry fields, sod farms, and wooded habitats within the farming area. Our database of bird reports from Zellwood exceeds 2200 records, mostly from late summer through mid-fall. We summarize these records for aquatic species in Appendix B.

RESULTS

Species diversity

The total number of shorebird species observed at Zellwood-38, including one exotic (Table 1)-truly is amazing, especially considering that Zellwood is an inland site, and that the shorebird diversity is an unintentional artifact of farming practices. We compared the number of shorebirds from other well-known sites in Florida, all of them coastal. Based on the number of shorebird species, only Everglades National Park, with 41 species (Loughlin et al. 1990) and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, with 39 species ( M m [undated]), have recorded more shorebirds than Zellwood. The number of shorebirds recorded at other sites in Florida are: Dry Tortugas National Park, 36 species (Robertson 1986); St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, 33 species (USFWS 1991); Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area, 33 species (DEP 1998); Fort DeSoto County Park, 33 species (Biggs 1993); St. George Island State Park, 29 species (DNR 1984); Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, 27 species (USFWS 1993); and J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 24 species (JNDDWSI 1993).

Table 1. Status and habitat preferences of all shorebirds that occur at Zellwood.

Our abundance categories, which apply predominantly to fall migration, are defined as follows: very rare species occur less than every year. All other categories denote annual occurrence, and abundance is measured by thc number of individuals expected to occur in a day: rare (1-4), uncommon (5-59, fairly common (10-19), common (20-99), and abundant (100 and up). Predominant foraging habitats of shorebirds at Zellwood are indicated for all but the very rare species. We define shallow water as two inches or less (Rundle and Fredrickson 198 1).

I SPECIES I ABUNDANCE AT ZELLWOOD I HABITAT PREFERENCE AT ZELLWOOD I

uncommon to fairly common very rare; 4 reports very rare; 1 report

dry grassy fields, sod farm

Baird's Sandpiper Pectoral Sandniner

verv rare: 3 reoorts 7 .~, - .~- ., . - r - - I

common to abundant I grassy fields, mudflats, shallow water verv rare: I renort I I . -. , - 2 - - r - - - I

uncertain, very rare to uncommon I shallow water, mudflats Dunlin Curlew Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper

very rare; 4 reports common to abundant uncommon to fairly common

I Common S n i ~ c I rare to uncommon I shallow water, mudflats, shallow marshes I

shallow water, mudflats dry grassy fields, sod farm

Ruff Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher

I Wilson's Phalarope I uncommon to common I shallow water, mudflats I I Red-necked Phalarove I very rare: 2 reports I 1

very rare; 8 reports common to abundant rare to fairly common

Overall, 224 birds have been reported from the Zellwood farms, comprising 215 native species, seven exotic (i.e., non-native) species, one hybrid or exotic species, and one color morph (Appendix A). Five of the exotic species are established locally, and two others represent individuals that escaped or were released from captivity. Of the native species, two are Endangered, four are Threatened, and eight are Species of Special Concern (Wood 1996) (Table 2). The Whooping Crane, from an experimental population released in Osceola County, also is listed as a Species of Special Concern (Wood 1996).

shallow water, mudflats shallow water, mudflats

Table 2. Listed species found at the Zellwood farms.

SPECIES Brown Pelican Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron White Ibis Roseate Spoonbill Wood Stork Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon

CATEGORY (Wood 1996) I FORAGING HABITAT(S) Special Concern I open water Special Concern I shallow water. mudflats, shallow marshes 4 Special Concern I shallow water, mudflats, shallow marshes Special Concern I shallow water. mudflats, shallow marshes. fields Special Concern I shallow water I Endangered I shallow water. mudflats. shallow marshes I Threatened I usuallv open water I Endangered I mostlv oven areas: aerial hunter I

Limpkin Whooping Crane P i ~ i n g Plover

Special Concern I shallow water. shallow marshes I S~ecial Concern I shallow water. shallow marshes. fields I Threatened I mudflats. shallow water I

I Least Tern Threatened I shallow water I Black Skimmer I Special Concern [ shallow water Burrowing Owl I Svecial Concern I oastures. fields. other drv owen areas

Species abundance

In the past 30+ years, there have been many hundreds of birding trips to the Zellwood farms, mostly from late summer to mid-fall. Unfortunately, few observers kept lists of the species they observed, and far fewer made detailed counts of the numbers of individuals. Ironically, it is the abundance of birds at Zellwood+ften in the thousands- that makes it difficult to count them. We therefore are unable to present extensive abundance data based on actual counts, or to present an accurate range of seasonal occurrence for species based on trip lists. We do, however, present such data when they were available to us. Information on the abundance and seasonal occurrence of all aquatic

birds found at Zellwood is found in Appendix B. We caution that the few detailed trip lists available to us has limited the accuracy of the information in Appendix B. Especially, both the high counts and the range of dates we have assigned to each species likely are understated.

DISCUSSION

General overview of shorebird life history

Shorebirds are hemispheric travelers, and nearly two-thirds of the 48 species that breed in North America undertake spectacular long-distance migrations between Arctic nesting areas and Central and South American wintering areas. Some of these migrations are made in single, non-stop flights, but most shorebirds stops at a few key sites in between their breeding and wintering grounds. These migration "stopover" sites contain abundant food resources that enable the birds to rest and quickly replenish energy reserves needed to continue their migration. During late summer and fall, the Zellwood f a m s are an important stopover site for thousands of shorebirds on their southward migration.

The duration that shorebirds remain at a stopover site varies from a few days to two weeks or more (e.g., Post and Browne 1976, Cooper 1994) and depends upon the species and the condition of the bird upon arrival. Interestingly, and relevant to our discussion of the Zellwood farms, shorebirds often return to the same stopover sites year after year (e.g., Smith and Houghton 1984, Lanctot and Laredo 1994). If a stopover site is lost, many of the shorebirds that depend on that site may be unable to find a suitable alternate site, and may not complete their migration.

As a consequence of their life-history patterns, the long-term conservation of shorebirds requires that their important breeding, wintering, and migration sites be identified and protected. Currently, the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network is linking these important shorebird sites into a network of protected reserves of regional, international, and hemispheric significance. We are in the process of nominating the Zellwood farming area as a site of regional significance (>20,000 shorebirds seasonally), or possibly a site of international significance (>100,000 shorebirds seasonally).

Because we are unaware of any other site in central Florida that currently could substitute for the Zellwood farms, we stress the need for continued management of the farms as a fall migratory stopover site for the thousands of shorebirds that have relied on the farms for 50 or more years.

Farming practices at Zellwood

Here, we briefly summarize the farming region and farming practices along the north shore of Lake Apopka. The area managed by the Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District encompasses 8700 acres in Orange County, and is divided by the McDonald Canal. Farmland north of the canal, which totals about 2700 acres, is called Unit 1, while farmland to the south, totaling about 6000 acres, is known as Unit 2. West of these two units, and east of the Apopka-Beauclair Canal, is the 3300-acre Duda farm,

located in Lake and Orange counties. The "sand farm," which is about 1000 acres, also is west of units 1 and 2. The Marsh Flow-way, which is about 5000 acres in size, occupies former farmland west of the Apopka-Beauclair Canal.

The Apopka-Beauclair Canal was dug in 1880, and farming soon followed. The McDonald Canal was dug later. Until 1942, year-round farming was limited to lands to Unit 1. The Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District was created by the Florida Legislature in 1941, and began building the levee along the lake's north shore. This levee was completed in 1942 and isolated extensive sawgrass marshland between the levee and the McDonald Canal. This marshland was soon converted to the farms of Unit 2. An extensive series of dikes, canals, and pumps manipulates water levels to allow farming.

Farming practices at Zellwood varied between farmers, but generally, the muck soil was disked at the beginning of the year, followed by the planting of crops (e.g., corn, carrots, radishes, and celery). One farm produced only sod. Following harvest of the crops, in late June and early July, the fields were flooded to control weeds and nematodes (parasitic roundworms), and to prevent soil erosion. The fields remained flooded until August or September, then were tilled and prepared for crops. Depending on the vegetable grown, three or more crops were produced annually. Not all farms were flooded regularly, and some farms were not flooded at all in the past 10 years (Giles Van Duyne personal communication). Vegetable fields that were not flooded were disked every two weeks for weed control.

Only about 1500-2000 acres of farmland in units 1 and 2 are flooded in any year Giles Van Duyne personal communication). The fields are shallow-flooded to encourage algae growth (for weed control) and to heat up the water (for nematode control). The ideal water depth is two inches, but elevational variation in the fields results in portions of some fields remaining dry, while other portions are flooded by water deeper than two inches. Because the farm fields are lower than the lake level, flooding of the fields is accomplished easily by opening gates in the lake levee. About two weeks are required to flood a field, which typically is one half-section (320 acres). Pumping is required to remove water fi-om a field, and requires another two to four weeks.

Consequences of long-term, deep flooding

Because of subsidence of the muck soils, the level of the farm surface is lower than the lake level. The initial flooding proposed by the District will inundate the fields with from one to three feet of water for a period of five or six years. The District's ultimate restoration plan involves breaching the lake levee to connect the fields to Lake Apopka. This will result in long-tenn flooding of the fields to a water depth of about four feet (Giles Van Duyne personal communication).

Following long-term deep flooding of the farm fields by the District, Conrow [1998:3] predicted use of the area by "species of special concern, such as the little blue heron, tri-colored [sic] heron, snowy egret and white ibis" and "numerous birds of prey" such as "the endangered American bald eagle, and two CITES Appendix I1 species: the northern hamer and [American] kestrel." However, Conrow [I9981 fails to acknowledge that all these species already occur at the farms under current fanning practices (Table 2, Appendix A and B). Furthermore, deep-flooding of the farm fields will substantially

reduce-r eliminate entirely-the amount of foraging habitats available for all wading birds, shorebirds, and many other species such as American Kestrels and Northern Harriers.

Shorebirds feed by picking up prey (e.g., insects, worms, and small crustaceans) from the surface of the water or ground, or by probing into the mud. Except for phalaropes, shorebirds cannot swim, hence all foraging activity must occur while the birds are standing. The longest-legged shorebirds that occur regularly at Zellwood have leg-lengths of eight to 12 inches, and the leg-lengths of the small sandpipers is only one or two inches. Therefore, shorebirds require water depths of no more than 6-10 inches for the largest species, and very shallow water of only one inch or less for the smallest species. Even the longest-legged wading birds, which feed on frogs, fish, and other small animals, cannot forage in water deeper than 18-20 inches. Ogden (1 996) characterized the primary foraging depth of Wood Storks as 2 to 15 inches.

Conrow [1998:3] correctly pointed out that shallow water habitats are "declining more precipitously than are other wetland habitats." Kautz (1993) estimated there were 6.96 million acres of marshland in Florida in 1936, or 20% of the state's total area. By 1987, wetlands in Florida had declined 56%, to only 3.87 million acres, or 9% of the state's land area. Similar or greater losses of marsh habitats have been reported virtually worldwide. In California, for instance, only 9% of the wetlands that existed 200 years ago still remain (Elphick and Oring 1998). In the Great Plains region of North America, where many shorebirds breed, 90% of the wetlands in some areas have been lost to agriculture since the early 1900s (Farmer and Parent 1997). With so much loss of habitat, migratory shorebirds are increasingly forced to rely on fewer stopover sites, which increases the distance they must travel between sites. Hence, the importance of each remaining stopover site increases as other sites are lost. The Zellwood farms are at least a regionally significant, and possibly an internationally significant, fall stopover site for shorebirds. 1t is vital that the District realizes the importance of maintaining shorebird foraging habitats at the Zellwood farms.

Bird use of agricultural landscapes

In many parts of the world, flooded farm fields often act as surrogate habitat for natural wetlands that have been lost to human uses. For example, recent studies in California's Sacramento Valley (Elphick and Oring 1998), the lower Mississippi Valley (Hands et al. 1991), and the Mediterranean region (Fasola and Ruiz 1996), illustrate that for shorebirds and other aquatic species, flooded agricultural habitats provide a partial solution to the problems these species encounter as their natural wetland habitats are lost. In Florida, birds have responded similarly, and agricultural areas at Zellwood and Belle Glade (mentioned below) provide habitat for many wetland-dependent species.

In 1977, Sykes and Hunter (1978) surveyed 2000 acres of shallow-flooded agricultural fields along the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee, near Belle Glade, in Palm Beach County, Florida. These vegetable fields, which were flooded with 0-12 inches of water, appear to be very similar to the fields at Zellwood. Sykes and Hunter (1 978) recorded amazing numbers of wading birds, shorebirds, and other aquatic species at Belle Glade. Their two highest daily counts recorded 55,143 and 70,714 aquatic birds.

Shorebirds comprised 45,236 and 58,706 of these totals, respectively. Their two lowest counts in 1977 recorded 5368 and 6392 aquatic birds, of which 3923 and 897 of these were shorebirds, respectively. The mean count for Sykes' and Hunter's (1978) six surveys in 1977 is 20,030 shorebirds per survey. Some of their daily totals are equally impressive: 1900 Great Egrets, 770 Snowy Egrets, 2480 Wood Storks, 4400 American Coots, 3 12 Black-bellied Plovers, 1330 Black-necked Stilts, 22,500 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4250 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 12,450 Least Sandpipers, and 4800 Short-billed Dowitchers. The mean number of birds per acre on 10 September 1977 was 35.4 for all birds, and 29.4 for shorebirds, which accounted for 83% of all birds observed (Sykes and Hunter 1978).

Sykes and Hunter (1978) regarded most of the shorebirds they recorded during their weekly surveys to be different individuals, and the substantial variation in many of their totals (Table 3) seems to support this belief. If nearly all of their shorebirds were migrants that were counted only once, then Sykes and Hunter (1978) recorded over 120,000 shorebirds using 2000 acres of flooded fields over a seven-week period from late July to early September 1977 (Table 3).

Table 3. Shorebird counts from Belle Glade in 1977 (from Sykes and Hunter 1978).

* Three species dominate this category: Least, Semipalmated, and Western sandpipers. All "peeps" are very similar in size and plumage coloration, making it difficult or impossible to identify birds in large, distant flocks. Hence, they are combined here.

The importance of the Zellwood farms for migratory shorebirds

According to Sprandel et al. (1997), the combined total of all of Florida's 40-t Christmas Bird Counts yielded a mean of 206,735 shorebirds annually between 1980 and 1989. The 120,000 migratory shorebirds recorded during six surveys of a single stopover site in 1977 by Sykes and Hunter (1978) suggests that more shorebirds migrate through Florida in fall than winter in the state. Consequently, inland agricultural habitats in Florida harbor a large proportion of the total number of shorebirds that occur in the state. Therefore, loss of the inland agricultural stopover sites could have disproportionately greater impacts on populations of Western Hemispheric shorebirds.

Because the Belle Glade migratory stopover site is entirely privately owned and not managed specifically for birds, conversion of these vegetable farms to less suitable or unsuitable habitats would eliminate what certainly is one of the most important migratory shorebird stopover sites in Florida. Hence, the Zellwood farms would play an even larger role in sustaining thousands of individual shorebirds traveling between their breeding and wintering areas.

The Zellwood farms also are used extensively by wading birds (e.g., Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, and Wood Stork) and other aquatic species in late summer and fall. In fact, the number of wading birds is usually in the hundreds, and occasionally thousands of individuals (Appendix B). For species where the age of birds can be determined by plumage differences, wading bird flocks at Zellwood often contain a substantial proportion of hatching-year juveniles. The Zellwood farms may provide important foraging areas for juvenile wading birds that are not otherwise available locally. Also, Sykes and Hunter (1978) point out that the shallow-flooded farm fields at Belle Glade supply good quality foraging areas when natural foraging areas may be flooded deeply from rainfall. Wading birds at Zellwood may be following a similar foraging strategy.

Pesticide use at Zellwood

Conrow [1998:3] reported that, "There is some evidence that concern is warranted regarding ingestion of pesticides by birds feeding on the [Zellwood] farm properties" and ". . .use of pesticides [at Zellwood] may have a very negative impact on many varieties of birds." However, she presented no data or references to support these statements. It certainly is warranted that a study be done to examine whether avian pesticide poisoning occurs regularly at Zellwood, but we consider it unwise to presume results without having supporting data. Conrow [1998:3] later states that, "once farming practices and pesticide use cease, there are no potential soil contaminant risks identified that cannot be effectively controlled," which suggests to us that pesticide poisoning at Zellwood is not a major problem. Giles Van Duyne (personal communication) confirmed that farmers at Zellwood follow all label directions when applying pesticides.

Nature-based tourism and recreation at Zellwood

The migratory shorebirds at the Zellwood farms are a major attraction for birders. Every year, fiom midJuly through September, hundreds of birders from many parts of the state visit the area to experience the great diversity of shorebirds, and to search for rare species that have made Zellwood famous. Further influencing birders' interest is that mid-to-late summer has the lowest landbird diversity in the state, and because there are few other places that offer exciting birding opportunities, Zellwood has become one of the most popular destinations in central Florida to watch birds during this time of year.

If a sufficiently large area of the farms can to be managed for shorebirds, and if access is improved (i.e., keeping gates open on weekends), visitation to the area for wildlife viewing could be increased substantially. This type of nature-based tourism could generate significant revenues for service industries in Zellwood, Plymouth, Apopka, and Mount Dora. In fact, an annual "Shorebird Festival," modeled after similar events elsewhere in the US and Canada, could help replace local economic losses caused by the ending of the popular "Sweet Corn Festival" that was held annually in the area.

A recent event illustrates the direct economic benefits of shorebird viewing at Zellwood. On Saturday, 29 August 1998, a Curlew Sandpiper was discovered at the farms. This species breeds on the Siberian tundra and usually migrates to Afnca and Australia. It is a rare bird in North America, with very few reports each year. By late Saturday afternoon, news of the sandpiper was transmitted to birders statewide via email and telephone "hotlines." Birders began to arrive at the farms early Sunday morning. They came from most parts of the state; groups from Jacksonville, Gainesville, Melbourne, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, and Miami. By the end of the day, about 75 people had come to see the Curlew Sandpiper, and by the end of the week, we estimate that nearly 200 people traveled to Zellwood to see this bird.

Some of those who traveled long distances, or failed to see the bird on their first visit, stayed overnight in motels in Apopka and Mount Dora. Many purchased goods at local restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations. On average, we estimate that each birder spent $25 while in the area, which translates to a net input of about $5000 into the local economy from the discovery of a single, rare shorebird.

Nature-based tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of Florida's tourism industry, and the largest growing segment of tourism worldwide, averaging a 30% annual increase since 1987 (Ruskin and Bock 1995). In 1996, nature-based tourism generated $1.7 billion for Florida's economy (FGFWFC 1998). The most popular type of wildlife viewing by Florida's residents and non-residents was watching birds. In 1996, over 1.5 million people watched birds in Florida, and over 1.3 million of these watched shorebirds (FGFWFC 1998). The number one habitat type visited by Florida's nature-based tourists was wetlands (FGFWFC 1998).

Zellwood and the neighboring communities around Lake Apopka have a truly spectacular natural history event in the diversity and abundance of shorebirds, wading birds, and other aquatic species that forage in flooded agricultural fields along the lake's north shore. We think it is realistic that, with proper management and marketing, observing birds at the Zellwood f m i n g area could generate substantial revenues for the local economies, and may greatly assist in offsetting the anticipated costs of managing a

portion of the farms for shorebird use. In addition to direct economic benefits, preserving the shorebird stopover site and

the abundance of wading birds at Zellwood will provide a special wildlife viewing experience for local residents. The site also will create educational opportunities for nearby schools, where teachers and students can learn about birds, their migrations, habitats, and conservation needs. With a few site improvements such as signage and an observation platform, and management that creates habitat for shorebirds and wading birds, residents of the Lake Apopka area will have their own version of the famous Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge east of Titusville. In fact, visits to both areas in September 1998 revealed that the diversity, abundance, and observability of birds were much greater at Zellwood than at Black Point.

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

With proper management, Zellwood could equal-and possibly exceed-Belle Glade as the premier inland fall migratory shorebird site in Florida. By simply increasing the amount of foraging habitat available at Zellwood, a greater number of shorebirds, wading birds, and other aquatic species will be attracted to the farms. Skagan and Knopf (1994) noted a positive correlation between the numbers of shorebirds and the amount of available habitat in the Great Plains during fall migrations in 1989-1992, and similar results are likely to be obtained at Zellwood.

Maintenance of the farm fields as a Shorebird Management Area (SMA) should not be labor-intensive and costly if facilitated by the existing series of fields, drainage canals, and pumps used by the farmers. The SMA can be a self-contained unit isolated from the remainder of the District's North Shore Restoration Area, and with appropriate engineering, should not affect the District's water and phosphorus budgets.

Amount of acreage

To maintain the diversity of species that use the farms, we stress the need to maintain a diversity of habitats within the SMA. Habitats should include shallow-flooded fields, short-grass uplands, and fallow fields. To achieve this balance, we recommend that at least 2560 acres, comprised of eight current fields of 320 acres each, be set aside as a permanent SMA. This figure is derived from the extent of shallow water habitat that was available under past farming practice+1500 to 2000 acres in the Zellwood Drainage District--plus an additional three fields available in short-grass uplands, exposed soil, and fallow habitats. A potential management scenario would be the following; five fields shallowly flooded, two fields for water storage, if needed, and one field in short-grass uplands.

Depth, timing, and duration of flooding

Rundle and Fredrickson (1981) and Hands et al. (1991) recommend that impoundments managed for shorebirds be manipulated to create a mosaic of mud and shallow water less than two inches deep. Coincidentally, two inches was the target depth of flooding for Zellwood farmers to control weeds and nematodes. It is not surprising, therefore, that farmers in the Zellwood Drainage District attracted large numbers of shorebirds. They unintentionally created ideal habitat, and the timing of habitat availability coincided perfectly with fall migration. Based on scientific research, and the past success of farmers, we recommend that shallow water habitats in the Zellwood SMA be managed to create water depths of two inches or less.

Because of rainfall and evaporation, it may be difficult to maintain desired water depths. Therefore, there is no optimal initial flooding depth (Rundle and Fredrickson 1981). The objective is a mosaic of habitats that will become suitable for shorebirds throughout the migratory period. Areas that are too deep for shorebird use initially will provide future habitat as impoundments dry out, and dry areas will provide a hedge against heavy rains (Rundle and Fredrickson 198 1).

The timing and duration of flooding should parallel the migratory periods of shorebirds. At Zellwood, and throughout Florida, fall migration of shorebirds occurs from mid-July through mid-October (e.g., Stevenson and Anderson 1994). Initial flooding and drawdowns should be implemented just prior to or during the migratory period (Hands et al. 1991). When manipulating water levels, gradual drawdowns are preferred to rapid drawdowns because new mudflats are continually exposed, and the period for shorebird use is extended (Rundle and Fredrickson 1981).

Vegetation grows rapidly in Florida, so some method of weed control will be necessary in the SMA. Fanners at Zellwood controlled weeds by disking fields every two weeks. We propose a similar schedule for fields managed as bare soil or short-grass areas. For fields managed for shallow water, disking should precede flooding to create mudflats and shallow, open water habitats used by shorebirds and wading birds.

Maintaining flooded fields through the winter should result in extensive use of the fields by waterfowl and will provide overwintering habitat for some shorebirds. Drawing down these fields in March and April should attract large numbers of shorebirds and other aquatic species on their northward migration.

SUMMARY

1. The Zellwood farms are one of the most important-and one of the three most diversmhorebird sites in Florida. From late summer through fall, the shallowly flooded farm fields are used by thousands of shorebirds migrating south from their breeding grounds in North America to their wintering grounds in Central and South America. Additionally, the fields are used by thousands of wading birds, including listed species such as Little Blue Herons, White Ibises, and Wood Storks. Long-term deep-flooding of these fields by the St. Johns River Water Management District will eliminate crucial foraging habitats for many birds. These habitats may not be available elsewhere in central Florida, and may disrupt the migration of thousands of shorebirds.

2. Maintenance of the farm fields as a Shorebird Management Area (SMA) should be relatively easy, given the existing series of fields, drainage canals, and pumps used by the farmers. The SMA can be a self-contained unit isolated from the remainder of the District's North Shore Restoration Area, so the SMA should not affect the District's water and phosphorus budgets.

3. The District has a superb opportunity to improve an existing, significant wildlife viewing site. Continued maintenance of some of the fields as shorebird habitats will benefit Florida's residents and tourists, the economies of local communities, and the District's conservation standing. Ignoring this opportunity will have ramifications for bird conservation and the quality of life for local residents. Seizing this opportunity will allow the District to create a flagship wildlife viewing area for the public. Additionally, creation of the Shorebird Management Area within the large-scale restoration of Lake Apopka will be a national model for complex restoration initiatives that include water quality improvements, wildlife conservation and viewing opportunities, and economic benefits to nearby communities.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are indebted to the Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District, and to the individual farmers, for allowing access to the farms for birding purposes for over 30 years. For supplying the funds that allowed BP to work on this project, we are indebted to the Alachua Audubon Society, Duval Audubon Society, Halifax River Audubon Society, Lake Region Audubon Society, Orange Audubon Society, St. Petersburg Audubon Society, Seminole Audubon Society, West Volusia Audubon Society, and several individuals: Kathy Banard, Wes Biggs, Becky Payne, and Mary Jean Rogers. Mike Delany graciously allowed BP to take off time fiom Florida Grasshopper Sparrow research to work on this project. -

For submitting bird observations, we are especially grateful to Paul Fellers, Becky Payne, Harry Robinson, and Parks Small; we thank also Wes Biggs, Dave Marvin, Gary Sprandel, and Eric Stolen. Giles Van Duyne and Jim Thomas supplied information on the Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District and the Lake Apopka restoration effort, respectively. Matt Schrader and Eugene Stoccardo supplied additional references. We thank David A. Sibley for use of the illustration, and Sandy Bogan for word processing assistance.

LITERATURE CITED

Biggs, C.W. 1993. Checklist of the birds of Fort DeSoto Park and Pinellas Bayway. Anderson Environmental Education Center. Sawgrass Lake Park. St. Petersburg, Florida.

Conrow, R. Undated [1998]. Lake Apopka north shore wetlands restoration - consideration of habitat management for migratory shorebirds. Department of Water Resources. [St. Johns River Water Management District. Palatka, Florida]. 4 pages.

Cooper, J.M. 1994. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). In The Birds of North America, Number 115 (A. Poole and F. Gill, editors). Academy of Natural Sciences. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and American Ornithologists' Union. Washington, D.C. 28 pages.

DEP. 1998. Checklist of the birds of Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Division of Parks and Recreation. Tallahassee, Florida.

DNR. 1984. Vertebrates identified in St. George Island State Park. Department of Natural Resources. Division of Recreation and Parks. Tallahassee, Florida.

Elphick, C.S., and L.W. Oring. 1998. Winter management of Californian rice fields for waterbirds. Journal of Applied Ecology 35 :95- 108.

Farmer, A.H., and A.H. Parent. 1997. Effects of the landscape on shorebird movements at spring migration stopovers. Condor 99:698-707.

FGFWFC. 1998. The 1996 economic benefits of watchable wildlife recreation in Florida. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Tallahassee, Florida. 18 pages.

Hands, H.M., M.R. Ryan, and J.W. Smith. 1991. Migrant shorebird use of marsh, moist- soil, and flooded agricultural habitats. Wildlife Society Bulletin 19:457-464.

JNDDWSI. 1993. Birds of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, Inc. U.S. Department of the Interior. Washington, D.C.

Kautz, R. 1993. Trends in Florida wildlife habitats 1936-1987. Florida Scientist 56:7-24.

Lanctot, R.B., and C.D. Laredo. 1994. Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis). In The Birds of North America, Number 91 (A. Poole and F. Gill, editors). Academy of Natural Sciences. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and American Ornithologists' Union. Washington, D.C. 20 pages.

Lane, J.A. 1981. A Birder's Guide to Florida. First edition. L & P Press. Denver, Colorado. Second edition in 1984, and Third edition in 1989. 160 pages.

Loughlin, M.H., J.C. Ogden, W.B. Robertson, Jr., K. Russell, and R. Wood. 1990. Everglades National Park bird checklist. Florida Parks and National Monuments, Inc. Homestead, Florida.

Myers, J.P., R.I.G. Momson, P.Z. Antas, B.A. Hamngton, T.E. Lovejoy, M. Sallaberry, S.E. Senner, and A. Tarak. 1987. Conservation strategy for migratory species. American Scientist 75: 19-26.

Ogden, J.C. 1996. Wood Stork (Mycteria americana). Pages 31-41 in Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Volume V. Birds. (J.A. Rodgers, Jr., H.W. Kale, 11, and H.T. Smith, editors). University Press of Florida. Gainesville, Florida

Post, W., and M.M. Browne. 1976. Length of stay and weights of inland migrating shorebirds. Bird Banding 47(4):333-339.

Pranty, B. 1996. A Birder's Guide to Florida. Fourth edition. American Birding Association. Colorado Springs, Colorado. xii + 388 pages.

Robertson, W.B., Jr. 1986. Birds of Fort Jefferson National Monument. Florida Parks and National Monuments, Inc. Homestead, Florida.

Rundle, W.D., and L.H. Fredrickson. 1981. Managing seasonally flooded impoundments for migrant rails and shorebirds. Wildlife Society Bulletin 9(2):80-87.

Ruskin, W., and C. Bock. 1995. Sustaining nature's treasures: Ecotourism 1991 -1995 and beyond. World Congress on Adventure Travel and Ecotourism.

Skagan, S.K., and F.L. Knopf. 1994. Migrating shorebirds and habitat dynamics at a prairie wetland complex. Wilson Bulletin 1 O6(l):9 1-1 05.

Smith, P.W., and N.T. Houghton. 1984. Fidelity of Semipalmated Plovers to a migration stopover. Journal of Field Ornithology 55:247:249.

Sprandel, G.L., J.A. Gore, and D.T. Cobb. 1997. Winter shorebird survey. Final Performance Report. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Tallahassee, Florida. v + l 6 l pages.

Stevenson, H.M., and B.H. Anderson. 1994. The Birdlve of Florida. University Press of Florida. xv + 892 pages.

Sykes, P.W., Jr., and G.S. Hunter. 1978. Bird use of flooded agricultural fields during summer and early fall and some recommendations for management. Florida Field Naturalist 6:36-43.

USFWS. 1991. Birds of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Department of the Interior. Washington, D.C.

USFWS. 1993. Birds of Cedar Keys and Lower Suwannee national wildlife refuges, Florida. 1983. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Department of the Interior. Washington, D.C.

Wood, D. 1996. Florida's Endangered Species, Threatened Species, and Species of Special Concern. Bureau of Nongame Wildlife. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Tallahassee, Florida. iii + 14 pages.

APPENDIX A: BIRD LIST FOR THE ZELLWOOD FARMS

Pied-billed Grebe* American White Pelican Brown Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Anhinga American Bittern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron "Great White Heron" (morph) Great Egret Snowy Egret Little Blue Heron L Tricolored Heron L Cattle Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Yellow-crowned Night-Heron White Ibis L Scarlet lbis (.exotic or hybrid) Glossy lbis Roseate Spoonbill L Wood Stork L Fulvous Whistling-Duck* Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Snow Goose Brant Wood Duck Green-winged Teal Mottled Duck* Mallard White-cheeked Pintail Northern Pintail Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Swallow-tailed Kite Bald Eagle L Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Swainson's Hawk

* aquatic species known to breed at Zellwood L Listed species (Wood 1996)

Red-tailed Hawk Fermginous Hawk American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon L Northern Bobwhite King Rail* Virginia Rail Sora Purple Gallinule* Common Moorhen* American Coot* Limpkin L Sandhill Crane Whooping Crane L (released) Southern Lapwing (exotic) Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover L Killdeer* Black-necked Stilt* American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Willet Spotted Sandpiper Upland Sandpiper Whimbrel Long-billed Curlew Hudsonian Godwit Marbled Godwit Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Dunlin Curlew Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ruff Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Common Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope

Laughing Gull Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Gull-billed Tern* Caspian Tern Royal Tern Sandwich Tern Common Tern Forster's Tern Least Tern L Black Tern Brown Noddy Black Skimmer L Rock Dove (exotic) Eurasian Collared-Dove (exotic) White-winged Dove (exotic) Mourning Dove Common Ground-Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Smooth-billed Ani Barn Owl Eastern Screech-Owl Great Homed Owl Burrowing Owl L Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Common Nighthawk Chuck-will's-widow Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Western Kingbird Eastern Kingbird Gray Kingbird Purple Martin Tree Swallow N. Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren

House Wren Sedge Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher American Pipit Cedar Waxwing Loggerhead Shrike European Starling (exotic) White-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Golden-winged Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Palm Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Louisiana Waterthrush Kentucky Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Summer Tanager Northern Cardinal Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Dickcissel Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird* Eastern Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle* Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch House Sparrow (exotic)

APPENDIX B: Annotated list of aquatic birds observed at the Zellwood farms

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps): A common winter resident in Florida, less common as a permanent resident. Breeds and forages in shallow fresh water, and forages also in open water. Probably a permanent resident at Zellwood, but status in spring and winter uncertain. Zellwood reports range between 22 July and 13 November, with one winter report on 20 February. The three highest counts are 40, 150, and 175 birds. There is at least one Zellwood breeding report: an adult with 4 chicks 22 July 1976.

American White Pelican (Pelecanus elythrorhynchos): An uncommon to locally abundant winter resident of the coasts and a few selected inland sites. Forages in shallow open water. There are six Zellwood reports: singles 1 August 1972 and 2 August 1976, 25 birds 16 July 1988, 8 birds 20 February 1992,4 birds 20 March 1992, and 125 birds 16 September 1998.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis): A Species of Special Concern, common along both coasts of Florida and rare but increasing inland. Forages in open water. There is at least one undated report from Zellwood.

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus): An uncommon to common permanent resident throughout Florida, abundant coastally in winter. Forages in relatively shallow open water. Probably occurs year-round at Zellwood, but limited data exist for winter and spring. The three highest counts are 40, 52, and 52 birds.

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga): An uncommon permanent resident throughout the Peninsula. Forages in quiet, shallow fresh or brackish water. The three highest Zellwood reports are 10, 10, and 11 birds.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus): A rare to uncommon migrant and winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in dense vegetation (e.g., cattail) in shallow fresh water marshes and wet fields. There are two Zellwood reports of single birds: 15 August 1971 and 20 March 1992.

Least Bittern (Ixob~ycl~us exilis): A fairly common but secretive permanent resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow fresh water marshes and weedy ponds. There are five Zellwood reports of singles between 1 July and 23 August, but probably breeds regularly in less-disturbed areas along the lake.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias): A common to abundant permanent resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water. The three highest Zellwood counts are 52, 125, and 250 birds.

"Great White Heron" (Ardea herodias occidentalis): An uncommon coastal resident of South Florida and the Keys. Some birds, usually immatures, move northward following the nesting season, and a few occur inland. Forages in shallow water. There is one Zellwood report: 1 immature 30 July 1986.

Great Egret (Al-dea alba): A common to abundant permanent resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water coastally and inland. The three highest Zellwood counts are 315, 400, and 500 birds.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula): An uncommon to common permanent resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water coastally and inland. The three highest Zellwood counts are 125, 200, and 300 birds.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea): A Species of Special Concern, common to abundant throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water, but is more common inland. The three highest Zellwood counts are 100,250, and 562.

Tricolored Heron (Egr-etta tricolor-): A Species of Special Concern, uncommon throughout Florida, more commo inland. Forages in shallow water. The three highest Zellwood counts are 52, 60, and 70 birds.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis): An abundant permanent resident throughout Florida. Feeds in dry open or grassy fields on insects disturbed by cattle, or-as at Zellwood-tractors. The three highest Zellwood counts are 1500, 1700, and 3000 birds.

Green Heron (Butorides striatus): Generally an uncommon permanent resident throughout Florida. Forages along the shores of quiet, shallow water. Common in canals at Zellwood, where the three highest counts are 50, 50, and 100 birds.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax): An uncommon permanent resident throughout Florida. In most areas, much more common inland than along the coasts. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. The three highest Zellwood counts are 10, 13, and 20 birds.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea): A fairly common permanent resident throughout Florida. Generally much more common coastally than inland. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird 30 July 1977.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus): A Species of Special Concern, common to abundant throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water, marshes, and wet fields. The three highest Zellwood counts are 416, 1000, and 2000 birds.

Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber): Native to South America and Trinidad, but kept often in captivity in Florida. Birds that have escaped or were introduced at Miami in 1961 have bred with Wlute Ibises, producing hybrids that vary from pale pink to nearly pure scarlet. Stevenson and Anderson (1994) point out that captive Scarlet Ibises with a dietary deficiency could lose some of their color, so pale birds may not necessarily be hybrids. Forages in shallow water. One "very scarlet" bird was seen at Zellwood 25 July 1980.

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus): An uncommon to locally abundant permanent resident of the Florida Peninsula, generally rare in the Panhandle. Much more common inland than along the coasts. Forages in shallow water and marshes. The three highest Zellwood counts are 175, 200, and 200 birds.

Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja): A Species of Special Concern, locally common in coastal areas of South Florida, uncommon but increasing in central Florida. After breeding, many birds, mostly juveniles, move inland. Forages in shallow water. There are numerous Zellwood reports between 1 July and 3 September. Most reports are 1-3 birds, with the highest count of 14 birds 3 September 1988.

Wood Stork (Mycter-ia americana): An Endangered species, uncommon to locally abundant in the Florida Peninsula; usually more common inland. Forages in shallow water. The three highest Zellwood counts are 350, 500, and 600 birds.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus): A common permanent resident throughout most of Florida. Forages on the ground. Undoubtedly occurs regularly at Zellwood, but we could find only three (!) reports, with the highest count of 6 birds.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura): A common to abundant permanent resident throughout most of Florida. Forages on the ground. The three highest Zellwood counts are 40, 40, and 62 birds.

Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor): An uncommon to abundant, very local permanent resident of the Florida Peninsula from Orlando south to Lake Okeechobee. Breeds and forages in shallow fresh water marshes and, especially, shallowly flooded agricultural fields at Zellwood and Belle Glade. The three highest Zellwood counts are 250, 350, and 474 birds. Has bred annually at the Zellwood since at least 1985.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis): A recent arrival into Florida, apparently from Mexico. Very locally abundant at Sarasota, with reports of presumed dispersers from many areas of the Florida Peninsula. Forages in shallow fresh water, along ponds, and in flooded agricultural fields. There are nine Zellwood reports, all of 1-3 birds, between 1 July and early September.

Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens): An uncommon to fairly common winter resident of the Florida Panhandle, much less common in the Peninsula. Forages in shallow water, marshes, and agricultural areas. There are three Zellwood reports, two of these probably of the same flock: 2 birds 30 October 198 1, 13 birds 6 November 199 1, and 3 birds 13 November 199 1.

Brant (Branta bernicla): A rare winter resident of the Florida Panhandle, even rarer in the Peninsula. Forages in shallow marshes and shallow water. There are two Zellwood reports of almost certainly the same bird: 24 and 3 1 October 1981.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa): A common permanent resident throughout Florida, found exclusively in fresh water. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes. The three highest Zellwood counts are 12, 15, and 100 birds.

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca): A fairly common winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes. There are only two (!) Zellwood reports: 1 bird 18 September 1970 and 15 birds 6 November 199 1.

Mottled

Mallard

Duck (Anus fulvigula): A fairly common to common permanent resident throughout the Florida Peninsula. Forages and breeds in shallow fresh water marshes. The three highest Zellwood counts are 75, 80, and 100 birds. Probably breeds at Zellwood annually.

(Anas plalyrhynchos): A rare to uncommon winter resident of the Florida Peninsula, more common in the Panhandle. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes, mostly in fresh water. Also an uncommon permanent resident of developed areas throughout Florida, where released as ornamental waterfowl. The presence of resident Mallards in the Orlando area makes it difficult to determine the status of the Zellwood birds. The summer reports almost certainly are of feral individuals, rather than wild birds. There are seven Zellwood reports between 23 July and 17 November. The highest count is 4 birds 1 September 1973.

White-cheeked Pintail (Anas hahamensis): A Caribbean species that has strayed to Florida less than 25 times. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird 18-19 August 1973.

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta): An uncommon to very locally abundant winter resident, more common along the coasts. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird 6 November 199 1.

Blue-winged Teal (Anus discors): A common to abundant migrant and winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes, mostly in fresh water. All Zellwood reports are during fall migration, but the species likely winters in the farming area. Zellwood reports range

between 1 July and 20 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 750, 1000, and 1100 birds.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata): An uncommon to fairly common winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes, mostly in fresh water. Zellwood reports range between 2 September and G November. The three highest Zellwood counts are 6, 1 1, and 20 birds.

Gadwall (Anas strepera): Generally a rare to uncommon winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow water and shallow marshes, mostly in fresh water. There are two Zellwood reports of presumably the same 2 birds: 6 and 1 3 November 199 1.

American Wigeon (Anas americana): An uncommon to common winter resident throughout Florida. Forages mostly in open water. There are two Zellwood reports of probably the same flock: 10 birds 6 November 199 1 and 5 birds 13 November 199 1. .

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria): An uncommon winter resident of coastal areas in Florida, rare inland. Forages in open water. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird 17 August 198 1.

Redhead (Aythya americana): An uncommon to common winter resident of coastal areas in Florida, rare inland. Forages in open water. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird 23 September 1983.

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris): A common to abundant winter resident in fresh water habitats throughout Florida. Forages in shallow fresh water marshes. There are two Zellwood reports: 1 bird 19 August 1973 and 5 birds 6 November 199 1.

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila): A rare to locally common winter resident of coastal areas in the Florida Panhandle. Much rarer in the Peninsula, and very rare inland. Forages in open water. There are three Zellwood reports of two singles: 7 and 15 January 1978, and 12 August 1973.

Lesser Scaup (Aythya afinis): An abundant winter resident of coastal areas in Florida, generally rare inland. Forages in open water. There are two Zellwood reports: 8 birds 6 November 1991 and 1 bird 13 November 199 1.

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus): An uncommon to locally abundant winter resident throughout Florida, much more common inland. Breeds very rarely in the state. Forages in shallow water. There is one Zellwood report: 2 birds 13 November 199 1.

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis): An uncommon to locally abundant winter resident throughout Florida, also breeds very rarely in the state. Forages in open water. The are four Zellwood reports of probably three singles: 1 and 15 September 1973,7 August 1986 (male in breeding plumage), and 13 November 199 1.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus): A fairly common permanent resident throughout Florida. Forages in open water. The three highest Zellwood reports are 5, 5, and 12 birds.

Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forjicatrts): An uncommon breeding resident of upland areas throughout most of Florida. Feeds on small animals plucked from trees. There is at least one undated Zellwood report.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus): A Threatened species, uncommon to locally common throughout the Peninsula, less common in summer. Forages in open water. The three highest Zellwood reports are 2, 8, and 1 1 birds.

Northern I-Iarrier (Circus cyanea): An uncommon to fairly common winter resident throughout Florida.

Forages over fields and shallow marshes. Zellwood reports range between 17 August and 16 April. The three highest Zellwood reports are 7, 1 1, and 15 birds.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter sh-iatus): A fairly common migrant and winter resident throughout Florida. Feeds on birds captured in flight. Zellwood reports range between 15 August and 22 February. All reports have been of single birds.

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii): An uncommon permanent resident in most of Florida. Feeds on birds captured in flight. There are at least two reports, including 1 bird 3 1 August 1998.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus): A fairly common permanent resident of upland habitats throughout Florida. Feeds on small animals captured on the ground. All Zellwood reports are of 1-6 birds.

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsonii): A rare to uncommon winter resident of South Florida, rare elsewhere during migration. Feeds on rodents and other animals captured on the ground. There are two reports from Zellwood: 7 January 1984 and 4 August 1984, a report called "so extreme [it] cannot be accepted without documentation" (Stevenson and Anderson 1994: 170).

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis): A rare to uncommon permanent resident throughout upland habitats in Florida, more common in winter. Feeds on rodents and other animals captured on or near the ground. Most reports at Zellwood are of 1-3 birds, with the highest count of 9 birds 13 November 1991. One individual of the Krider's race (B. j. kriderii) was observed 25 January and 22 February 1992.

Fermginous Hawk (Buteo regalis): A breeding resident of open country of the western US and Canada, wintering south to Mexico. Forages on the ground in dry, open and weedy fields. The first Florida record was obtained at Zellwood: 2 immatures that wintered at the farms between 19 December 1993 and 5 March 1994.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius): Occurs in Florida as two populations. The resident race (F. s. paulus) is a rare to uncommon, declining permanent resident, while the northern race (F. s. sparverius) breeds north of Florida but winters extensively in the state. Based on dates of occurrence, all kestrels at Zellwood apparently are the wintering race. F. s. paulus has been virtually eliminated from the entire Orlando area by habitat destruction. Both races feed on insects and small vertebrates captured on the ground. Zellwood reports range between 10 September and 20 March. All reports are of 1-5 birds.

Merlin (Falco cohmbarius): An uncommon migrant and winter resident throughout Florida, more common coastally. Feeds on birds captured in flight. We could find only two Zellwood reports: single birds 6 November 1991 and 12 September 1998.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus): An Endangered Species, uncommon to locally common along coasts in Florida in fall, rare inland, and in winter and spring. Feeds on birds captured in flight. Zellwood reports range between 11 September and 17 November. All Zellwood reports have been of single birds, except 2 birds 16 September 1998.

Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus): Formerly a common resident throughout Florida, declining and now generally uncommon. Forages on seeds and insects in dry weedy fields. All Zellwood reports are of 1-2 birds, except 8 birds 14 July 1977 and 10 birds 16 September 1998.

King Rail (Rallus elegans): An uncommon to locally common permanent resident throughout fresh water habitats of Florida. Breeds and forages in shallow fresh water marshes. All Zellwood counts are of 1-3 birds. There is at least one Zellwood breeding report: a chick observed with 2 adults 29 August 1987.

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola): A rare to uncommon winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow marshes. There is at least one undated report from Zellwood.

Sora (Porzana carolina): A fairly common to common winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow marshes. Undoubtedly occurs annually at Zellwood, but we have dates for only four reports, all of singles birds between 2- 19 September.

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica): An uncommon to locally common permanent resident of fresh water habitats throughout most of Florida. Breeds and forages in shallow, well-vegetated fresh water. Undoubtedly occurs at Zellwood in spring, but reports range only between 21 July and 9 September, with many breeding reports. The highest count is 10 birds on 21 July 1974.

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus): A common to abundant permanent resident throughout fresh water habitats in Florida. Breeds and forages in shallow fresh water and fresh water marshes. There are numerous Zellwood breeding reports. The three highest Zellwood counts are 850, 1 100, and 2000 birds; the latter is the highest count in Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).

American Coot (Fulica americana): A common to abundant winter resident throughout Florida, rare and very local as a permanent resident. Breeds and forages in shallow fresh water marshes; forages also in shallow water. Undoubtedly occurs at Zellwood in spring, but reports range only between 22 July and 13 November. The three highest Zellwood counts are 60, 75, and 90 birds. There are two breeding reports: an incubating adult 22 July 1976 and young birds in August 1987.

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna): A Species of Special Concern, limited in North America to Florida and extreme southern Georgia, where a permanent resident. Breeds and forages in shallow fresh water marshes, along shores, in ditches, and in shallow fresh water. Probably resident at Zellwood, but reports range only between 8 August and 15 September. All reports are of 1-3 birds.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis): Two populations occur in Florida. The Florida Sandhill Crane (G. c. pratensis) is an uncommon to locally common permanent resident in the Peninsula. The Greater Sandhill Crane (G. c. tabicla) is a locally abundant winter resident of the Peninsula. The Florida race breeds in shallow fresh water marshes, and both races forage in muddy fields and shallow fresh water marshes. There are two Zellwood reports: 2 birds 23 August 1970 and 2 birds "overhead" 22 August 1971. These dates are sufficiently late (Stevenson and Anderson 1994) to suggest the birds may have been migrant Greater Sandhill Cranes, rather than of the resident Florida race.

Whooping Crane (Grus americana): An Endangered species, breeding exclusively in Woods-Buffalo National Park in Canada, and wintering almost exclusively at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Since 1992, an experimental population of about 40 birds per year has been released into Osceola County, Florida. Birds from this population, which are considered a Species of Special Concern, have dispersed to many areas of central Florida. Breeds in shallow fresh water marshes and forages in muddy fields and shallow fresh water marshes. There is one Zellwood report: 2 birds 1-13 August 1994.

Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis): Native to South America. There are about seven Florida reports, all presumed to represent escapes. Forages in dry and wet grassy fields. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird 23 July 1961.

Black-bellied Plover (Plzrvialis squatar-ola): A common migrant and winter resident of coastal areas throughout Florida, uncommon to locally common inland, usually during migration. Forages in short-grassy fields, bare ground, and along shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 21 July and 6 November, with one winter report on 22 February. The three highest Zellwood counts

are 55, 60, and 100 birds.

American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica): A rare to uncommon migrant throughout Florida, much more common in fall than in spring. Forages in short-grass fields. Zellwood reports range between 3 August and 17 November, with one spring report on 16 April. The three highest Zellwood counts are 1 1, 17, and 24 birds.

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus): A common winter resident of coastal areas throughout Florida, much less common inland during migration. Forages on mudflats and sandflats, and along shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 21 July and 16 October. The three highest Zellwood counts are 70, 100, and 100 birds.

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus): A Threatened Species, very local in winter along sandy coasts, with very few inland reports. Forages on sand flats, mud flats, and along shores. There are three Zellwood reports, almost certainly of the same bird, 18 August-3 September 1974.

Killdeer (Charadrius vocijierus): An uncommon to locally common breeding resident in most of Florida, often abundant in winter. Breeds and forages in dry grassy or weedy fields, also forages along the edges of shallow fresh water marshes. Probably resident at Zellwood, but reports range only between 9 July and 20 March. The three highest Zellwood counts are 136, 230, and 500 birds. Probably breeds annually at Zellwood, but there seems to be no report of this.

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus): An uncommon to locally abundant breeding resident throughout the Peninsula, rare and local in winter. Breeds and forages in shallow fresh water marshes and mudflats. Zellwood reports range between 21 July and 15 September, but birds almost certainly arrive in spring. The three highest Zellwood counts are 150, 250, and 300 birds. There are many Zellwood breeding reports.

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana): An uncommon to locally common permanent resident in Florida, but has not bred. Occurs locally at a few coastal sites, and regularly is found inland in fall. Forages in shallow open water. There are many Zellwood reports between 29 July and 16 October. The three highest Zellwood counts are 7, 8, and 8 buds.

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca): A common to abundant migrant and winter resident throughout Florida, much more common in fresh water. Forages in shallow water, shallow marshes, and on mudflats. Zellwood reports range between 1 July and 13 November, but some birds may winter. The three highest Zellwood counts are 400, 500, and 800 buds.

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes): A common to abundant migrant and winter resident throughout Florida, much more common in fresh water. Forages in shallow water, shallow marshes, and on mudflats. Zellwood reports range between 1 July and 13 November, but some birds probably winter. The three highest Zellwood counts are 900, 1000, and 1225 birds.

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria): An uncommon migrant throughout Florida, avoiding salt water habitats. Forages in and along shallow fresh water. Zellwood reports range between 14 July and 10 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 9, 10, and 38 birds; the latter is the highest count in Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).

Willet (Catoptrophorus sernipalmatus): The Eastern Willet (C. s. sernipalmatus) is an uncommon to common permanent resident of coastal areas throughout Florida. Birds found inland during migration-apparently Western Willets (C. s. inornatus)-are rare to uncommon in fall. Both races forage in and along shallow water and in shallow marshes. Zellwood reports range between 30 July and 15 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 18, 19, and 40 birds; the latter count is the highest inland report in Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia): An uncommon migrant and winter resident coastally throughout Florida, uncommon inland during migration. Forages along the shore of shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 1 July and 16 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 11, 15, and 19 birds.

Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda): A rare to fairly common migrant, much more common in fall than in spring. Forages in dry grassy and weedy fields. Zellwood reports range between 1 1 August and 10 September, with one spring report on 16 April. The three highest Zellwood counts are 33, 4 1, and 58 birds.

Whirnbrel (Numeniusphaeopus): An uncommon and local winter resident of the coasts, especially the Gulf coast, but rare inland. Forages in shallow water. There are four Zellwood reports of single birds: 30 July 1966,24 August 197 1 ,3 August 1974, and 12 September 1980.

Long-billed Curlew (Mimenius amel.icanus): A rare and very local winter resident of a few sites along the Gulf coast, very rare inland. Forages in shallow water and muddy areas. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird at Duda Farm 30 August-early September 1975.

Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica): A breeding resident of Alaska and Canada, wintering in South America. There are less than 40 reports in Florida, mostly along the coasts. Forages in shallow water. There are three Zellwood reports: single birds 7 September 1980 and 16 September 1983, and up to 32 birds 31 August-early September 1986, the highest count in Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa): Occurs nearly year-round in Florida, but has not bred. Locally common at a few coastal sites, but irregular inland. Forages in shallow water. There are over 15 Zellwood reports, all of single birds, between 12 August and 16 September.

Ruddy 'I'urnstone (Arenaria interpres): An uncommon to locally abundant winter resident of coastal habitats throughout Florida, rare to uncommon inland during migration. Forages along the shore of shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 28 July and 20 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 5,6, and 8 birds.

Red Knot (Calihis canutus): A local winter resident of sandy beaches, abundant at a few Gulf coast sites, rare inland during migration. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. There are at least 13 Zellwood reports between 17 August and 10 September. Four counts exceeded single birds: 2, 3,3, and 5 birds.

Sanderling (Calidris alba): A common to abundant winter resident of beaches and mudflats, rare inland during migration. Forages mostly along the shore of shallow water. There are 10 Zellwood reports between 28 July and 19 September, all of 1 or 2 birds.

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla): A common to abundant migrant throughout Florida. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 15 July and 16 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 750, 1000, and 1500 birds.

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri): A common to abundant migrant throughout Florida, winters mostly along the coasts. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 14 July and 16 October. The three highest Zellwood counts are 500, 965, and 2100 birds.

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla): A common to abundant migrant throughout Florida, winters mostly along the coasts. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 13 July and 13 November. The three highest Zellwood counts are 1000, 1290, and 2500 birds.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis): A rare to locally uncommon migrant throughout Florida. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. There is one Zellwood report: 2 birds 3 1 August 1986.

Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii): A very rare to rare migrant throughout Florida. Forages in wet and dry grassy fields, and along the shore of shallow water. There are three Zellwood reports of single birds: 14 August 197 1, 10 September 1989, and 20 September 1990.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos): A common to abundant fall migrant throughout Florida, much less common in spring. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water, and in wet and dry fields. Zellwood reports range between 14 July and 13 November. The three highest Zellwood counts are 2000,2000, and 3000 birds.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata): A breeding resident of Siberia that winters in New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia. A few birds stray to North America in fall, mostly along the Pacific coast. Forages in wet fields, muddy areas, and shallow water. There are two Florida reports, including one juvenile at Zellwood 12- 13 August 1973.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina): A common to abundant winter resident of Florida's coasts. Rare inland during migration. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. There are four Zellwood reports: 1 bud 1 August 1991, 10 birds 6 November 1991, 32 birds 13 November 1991, and 1 bird 15 August 1998.

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea): A breeding resident of Europe, Asia, and Alaska that winters from England south to Africa, in India, the Philippines, and Australia. A few birds stray to North America every year. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. There are four Zellwood reports of single buds: 18 September 1967, 28 April-1 May 1968, 17-19 August 1985, and 29 August-4 September 1998.

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus): An uncommon to common migrant in Florida, much more common in fall. Small numbers winter in the state. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 15 July and 16 October. The three highest Zellwood counts are 340,400, and 1228 birds.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruJicollis): An uncommon fall migrant in Florida, much less common in spring. Forages mostly in dry, short-grass fields. Zellwood reports range between 17 August and 17 November, the latest date in Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994). The three highest Zellwood counts are 40,40, and 45 birds.

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax): A widespread breeding resident of Eurasia, wintering south to Africa and Australia. A few birds stray to North America every year. Forages in and along the shore of shallow water. There are 10 Zellwood reports that probably represent eight singles between 17 July and 4 September.

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus): A common to abundant migrant and winter resident of coastal areas throughout Florida, also occurs inland, mostly during migration. Forages in shallow water. Zellwood reports range between 28 July and 13 November, with one winter report on 13 January. The three highest Zellwood counts are 320, 350, and 450 birds.

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus): A rare to locally common migrant and winter resident of fresh water habitats throughout most of Florida. Forages in shallow fresh water. Zellwood reports range between 21 July and 25 August. The three highest Zellwood counts are 15, 25, and 3 1 birds.

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago): A rare to uncommon migrant throughout fresh water habitats in Florida; may be locally abundant in winter. Forages on mudflats and in and along the shore of shallow fresh water. Probably winters regularly at Zellwood, but reports range only between 3 August and 15 September, with one spring report on 20 March. All counts have been of 1-4 birds.

Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor): A rare to locally common fall migrant at a few inland sites in the Peninsula, very rare elsewhere and at other seasons. Common only in shallowly flooded agricultural fields at Zellwood and Belle Glade. Forages in and along the shore of shallow fresh water. Zellwood reports range between 22 July and 11 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 64,75, and 93 birds.

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus): A breeding resident of northern North America and Europe, wintering offshore in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There are less than 100 Florida reports, mostly in the Atlantic. Forages in open water, and along the shore of shallow water. There are two Zellwood reports of single birds: 3 1 August 1974 and 8 September 1984.

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla): An abundant permanent resident throughout coastal areas of Florida, rare to uncommon inland in winter and during migration. Forages in open water, along shores, and at garbage dumps. Zellwood reports range between 21 July and 11 September, with one spring report on 16 April 1992. The three highest Zellwood counts are 19,20, and 25 birds.

Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia): An uncommon to locally abundant winter resident of coastal areas throughout most of Florida, less common and local inland. Forages in shallow water. There is at least one undated Zellwood report.

Ring-billed Gull (Larus ddawarensis): An abundant wintering resident in coastal areas throughout Florida, locally abundant inland. Forages in open water, along shores, and at garbage dumps. Zellwood reports range between 1 July and 16 April. The three highest Zellwood counts are 155, 250, and 300 birds.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus): An uncommon to locally common winter resident of coastal areas throughout Florida, rare inland. Forages in open water, along shores, and at garbage dumps. There is one Zellwood report of 2 birds 13 November 1991.

Gull-billed Tern: (Sterna nilotica): A rare to uncommon, very local permanent resident, less common in winter, except in extreme South Florida. Breeds in dry grassy areas or on bare ground. Feeds on insects and small vertebrates captured in the air or on the ground. There are 10 Zellwood reports between 14 July and 1 September, including a breeding report of 2 adults and 1 juvenile 19 August 1972. All Zellwood counts are of 1-5 birds.

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia): An uncommon and very local permanent resident at a few coastal sites in Florida. In migration and winter, uncommon and widespread coastally, and rare to locally uncommon inland. Forages in open water. Zellwood reports range between 22 July and 13 November. The three highest Zellwood report are 30,4 1, and 45 birds.

Royal Tern (Sterna maxima): An uncommon to locally abundant permanent resident of coastal areas throughout Florida; very rare inland. Forages in open water. There is at least one undated Zellwood report.

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sanclvicensis): A rare to locally common permanent resident at a few coastal sites, much more common and widespread in winter. Very rare inland. Forages in open water. There are two Zellwood reports: 1 bird 16 July 1975, and 2 birds 3 1 August 1975.

- Common Tern (Sterna hirundo): An uncommon to locally abundant coastal migrant throughout Florida, very rare inland and in winter. Forages in open water. There are three Zellwood reports: 2 birds 17 August 1966 and 27 July 1972, and 1 bird 1 September 1973.

Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri): A common winter resident of coastal areas throughout Florida, much less common inland. Forages in open water. Zellwood reports range between 18 July and 16 September, with one spring report on 20 March. The three highest Zellwood counts are 90, 165, and 500 buds.

Least Tern (Sterna antillarum): A Threatened Species, uncommon to common from spring to early fall throughout Florida, mostly along the coasts. Forages in open water. There are seven non-breeding reports from Zellwood between 9 July and 2 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 15,21, and 50 birds.

Black Tern (Chlicionias niger): An uncommon to locally abundant migrant throughout Florida, especially in fall. Forages over water, marshes, and dry fields. Zellwood reports range between 1 July and 11 September. The three highest Zellwood counts are 240,295, and 500 birds.

Brown Noddy (Anous stolicius): An abundant breeding resident at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida. Otherwise, occurs only offshore, unless blown inland by storms. Feeds on small animals plucked from open water. There is one Zellwood report: 1 bird 10 September 1965.

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger): A Species of Special Concern, uncommon to locally abundant in coastal areas throughout Florida, rare inland. Forages in quiet, shallow water. There are at least 10 reports ranging between 1 July and 16 September. All counts are of 1-2 birds, except 10 birds 21 July 1974.

Burrowing Owl (Athene canicularia): A fairly common resident of dry fields in scattered areas of the Florida Peninsula, with other populations in the western US. Feeds on small animals captured on the ground. There is one Zellwood report of 1 bird 8 August 1987.

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus): A rare and local winter resident throughout Florida. Forages over dry fields and shallow marshes. There are three Zellwood reports: up to 7 wintered in 1964-1965, up to 6 wintered 1986-1987, and 1 bud 16 April 1992.

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon): A common winter resident throughout Florida. Forages in shallow open water. Zellwood reports range between 21 July and 25 August. All Zellwood counts are of 1-6 birds.