Friends of ​Kissimmee Prairie Preserve
  • Home
  • DONATE / JOIN US
  • Map/Info
  • Prairie Blog
  • About Us
  • Checklists & Links
  • Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Fund
  • Friends and Partners
  • AmazonSmile
  • Photos

Prairie Blog

What's going on in the Florida prairie.

Where the Rare is Commonplace... (part two)

5/22/2012

2 Comments

 

Where the Rare is Commonplace... or not.

Picture
Florida Grasshopper Sparrow
As mentioned in February's post, here,  there are many uncommonly seen species that can be found with relative ease at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve. But the Preserve also protects and harbors some species that are not commonly found anywhere in Florida — or even in the world.

The most notable of these is the federally endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus), a subspecies of grasshopper sparrow endemic to Florida's fire-dependent dry prairie habitat.  Loss of habitat and other stressors (such as exotic, invasive fire ants) have reduced the population of this secretive little bird to where only a few hundred are believed to remain. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve is among the very few places where it is making its last stand.

To learn more about the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow visit the FWC website.

One of those more "commonplace" birds that is often seen in the summer flying gracefully over the Preserve is the beautiful and elegant Swallow-tailed Kite.  And while they always provide a thrill, there is another kite seldom seen in Florida—the White-tailed Kite—a spectacular raptor known to nest in the Preserve. A very lucky summer visitor might spot one hovering while hunting above prairie, or even perched on a snag.  

Picture
White-tailed Kite in its nest tree.
The Preserve's unique habitat harbors more than rare birds. It is also a place where one might find a threatened or endangered plant species, including the rarest of the grass pink orchids, the Manyflowered Grasspink (Calopogon multiflorus), which appears in the prairie shortly after a fire, or the aptly- named Bog Torch, AKA Snowy Orchid, (Habenaria nivea).
Picture
Snowy Orchid or Bog Torch (Habenaria nivea)
Picture
Manyflowered Grasspink (Calopogon multiflorus)
Picture
Florida Brown Snake
Not to forget reptiles and amphibians — the Preserve is habitat for the extremely rare South Florida Mole Kingsnake, for instance (no photo of that!). Florida Panther tracks have been seen there as well. Rarely seen butterflies and other arthropods also have been recorded in the Preserve (some of which may be covered in a future post from Linda Cooper).

Stay tuned for the next post —I have another guest blogger in mind to talk about crucial role of fire at the Preserve. (with some great photos).
2 Comments

    Friends of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve

    Random thoughts on and pictures of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve.

    Photos are
    ©Christina Evans
    unless otherwise noted
    (Blog images may often be viewed larger by clicking on them)

    Archives

    April 2016
    October 2015
    May 2015
    March 2014
    November 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Bachman's Sparrow
    Butterflies
    Crested Caracara
    Donna Bollenbach
    Endangered Species
    Fall
    Fire
    Florida Brown Snake
    Florida Grasshopper Sparrow
    Flowers
    Kissimmee Prairie
    Linda Cooper
    Membership
    Northern Bobwhite
    Prairie Loop Trail
    Seasons
    Skippers
    Trails
    Turkeys
    White-tailed Kite
    Wildlife

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • DONATE / JOIN US
  • Map/Info
  • Prairie Blog
  • About Us
  • Checklists & Links
  • Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Fund
  • Friends and Partners
  • AmazonSmile
  • Photos