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KwautLizard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Congratulations on preserving this really relaxing corner of an island I came to love and once called my home. I hope to get back someday to enjoy the Pine shade after a nice swim off of Fort Zach. What is up with the bird sanctuary, The Pond, has that area been cleared and readied for development? I hope not as it seems to be the only home for one of the islands namesakes, the Key West Quail Dove.
jonalisa64 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
CONGRATULATIONS!
KEY WEST CITIZENS HAVE SAVED THE TREES!
(what's left after some were already removed)
brilliant. Well done!
KwautLizard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
The birds took advantage of 'extant' mangroves, 'extant' vegetation on surrounding islands, and a strict area set aside for them, Key West Bird Sanctuary dubbed The Salt Pond by developers and directly behind my house, also colonised by Casuarina equisitifolia. The adverb was further i.e. further altered and further poorly executed. Further altering the only beach with sheltering trees on the entire island to create a revenue stream, in one of the few profitable parks in all of the US. IRONIC!
raluka3 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
You are right , kwautlizard!
SouthernWasp (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Since,as YOU say, it is "not a natural habitat" but a "man-made habitat further altered & poorly executed" than there is no reason to preserve this "poorly executed" folly that was planted prior to the awareness of this species damage. And they topple quite easily in high winds and the ground is soaked.
P.S. Where did these birds go prior to 1964?
KwautLizard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
There are no Park Service pogroms to eliminate Royal Poincina's, Coconut Palms, Canary Island Date Palms, Euycalyptus alba, Melaluca alternifolia, or any of the other hundreds of 'pretty' introduced trees that dot all of Florida. Ironically, Australian Pines have been Florida inhabitants as long as the aforementioned ornamentals associated with the state. Another irony is that few Americans seem to be acknowledging Global Warming and Sea Level Rises. Key West is a continental low-island.
KwautLizard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
My apology, Royal Poinciana's were introduced to Florida in 1937 from Madagascar.
KwautLizard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Royal Poinciana is also an introduced species that originally ranges from Mexico to Brazil. This highlights another inherent problem, people associate the pretty species that they enjoy looking at with the place they first observed them. Not for the intrinsic value that those species have for local fauna and other flora. Look at Hawaii.
I think the major concern here is that the Park Service does not duplicate suburban uglification, especially in a one of the countries few profitable parks.
KwautLizard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Again a gradual reintroduction process would be most favourable but the immediate decimation of these trees is most unwarranted. I have noted many dead birds unable to survive the crossing, only to succumb upon arrival. One less place for birds to rest, roost, lower their metabolism or forage, and no interim period as the area is re-vegetated. This reclaimed land-fill, completed in 1964 does not constitute a natural habitat being preserved but man-made habitat further altered & poorly executed!
SouthernWasp (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I agree that in the majority of cases the bulldozer mentality does more harm than
good. But the Casuarina ia an invasive plant that will choke out any native or local species wich is why they must be removed first. (coconut palms were never mentioned) How about other types of palms? Royal Poinciana trees? A tropical plant that are not only beautiful but provide great shade and habitats for many animals and birds. They are also very well suited for our climate and storms. A variety maybe? |
