Environmental Interpretation Journal

OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE

History: Lake Apopka

Lake Apopka was once the second largest lake in Florida, known for excellent fishing. In the early 1920s, the city of Winter Garden began discharging sewage into the lake and in the 1940s, agriculture sites around the lake were adding nutrients including DDT and other pesticides. After most of the game fish population was killed, efforts began to stabilize the lake. Passage of the Lake Apopka Restoration Act in 1985 and 1988's transfer of authority to regulate discharge into the lake to Saint Johns River Water Management District helped, but concerned citizens wanted to do more.

Oakland Nature Preserve (ONP) was established in 1997 to purchase the land to begin restoration work on the south shore of Lake Apopka. The purpose is to return the land to its original ecology, initially focusing on the sandhills, including the reintroduction of longleaf pines and gopher tortoises. It is 128 acres (48 uplands and 80 forested wetlands) with a boardwalk to the lake. The environmental education center was later added and today houses live animal ambassadors, a museum and a library.

The mission of ONP: "to promote an understanding of the fragile balance between mankind and the environment by educating visitors about Lake Apopka basin's ecosystems and cultural history, and by restoring and conserving the lands within the Preserve"

[Historical information from Oakland Nature Preserve website]

My visit focused on the Sandhill Restoration Area (red trail above) and an additional area undergoing restoration near the Education Center. At one time a citrus grove, then a slash pine pulp forest, the first phase of the restoration involved removing all unwanted trees and invasive plants. In the western restoration area, all trees were removed and longleaf pines were planted. In the eastern area by the Education Center, 90% of trees were removed and replaced with longleaf pines. Additionally, native plants were widely planted and gopher tortoises were reintroduced.

The Gopher tortoise is the keystone species most associated with sandhill uplands. Researchers documented over 350 species, referred to as commensals, that rely on their burrows. At Oakland, they are trying to reestablish the historical population. Recent surveys showed over 180 active or suspected active burrows in the preserve.

One of the key reasons the burrows are important is based on the frequent fire regime necessary to maintain the sandhill environment. This ecological process is necessary to prevent hardwood succession in pine uplands. Animals use the gopher tortoise burrow for shelter during the fires. Gopher tortoises rely on the fire to maintain open, sandy areas and herbaceous forage plants. Fire suppression may make habitat unsuitable for gopher tortoises.

Grass stage for longleaf pines can be one to seven years. During this time, it is able to survive fire because most of growth is in root system.

Not all restorations follow the same plan. At the East site, some of the trees were left (above) where at the West site, all of the trees were removed (below).

The sandhill areas of the park are maintained by frequent fire regime. This keeps the understory low to allow for better habitat for gopher tortoises and other wildlife. In the urban area where it is located, the fires are contained to small areas. Recently 1 acre underwent a prescribed burn (pictured below).

If I was planning a guided walk, I would focus on the red trail and the sandhill restoration projects. My theme would be: Restoration is only the beginning to return sandhills to a functioning habitat.

Many interpretative signs were added in the past 20+ years.

My favorite interpretive area was the Bird Blind just off boardwalk.

The blind has many desirable features: flat/level concrete pad for tripods, openings at varied heights for younger and disabled patrons, and fruiting plants added to open area in front to attract birds. It is time for updating! Here's what I would like to change.

Just a short distance from the bird blind is this sheltered poster with some of the 150 species identified in the preserve that are present throughout the year. A number below each picture corresponds to names at bottom of pictures. If the names were covered, this could be used for interpretive activities.

And you never know what you'll come across at ONP...

HIDDEN POND PRESERVE

Hidden Pond Preserve is one of the closest locations to my home. The ribbon opening ceremony for this property was on August 21, 2019. According to the map, it is 113 acres in Christmas FL (East Orange County). An Orlando Sentinel article (August 21, 2019) stated the land was purchased through the Green PLACE Program, which stands for Park Land Acquisition for Conservation and Environmental Protection. The property contains mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods and the basin swamp.

This property was added to increase the ecological corridor in the area, allowing native plants and animals to travel between parcels. This land connects to multiple preservation lands nearby including the Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park, a 9000-acre space managed by St Johns River Management District partnered with Orange County. One concern is wildlife will need to cross FL-520, a four-lane road, to enter the preserves.

The preserve only offers trails and picnic tables for recreation. These are considered moderate to difficult trails and are not accessible to some due to root structures and slope. If you do the entire green trail loop, part of the walk follows along FL-520.

My visit was in the early afternoon so I did not see many birds close enough to identify. I did see lots of dragonflies and damsel flies. My husband startled a large buck and wild turkey on trail.

One bird known to inhabit nearby areas is the endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers. They require cavities drilled into longleaf, slash and loblolly pines that have developed heart-rot (90 – 100 years). They drill resin wells to cause sap to flow on face of tree to discourage predators such as rat snakes. Restoration of this area will continue to improve the habitat and water flow.

Plans are underway at Hidden Pond for the construction of an observation pier to give visitors a view of the basin marsh the property is named for. Additional signage is planned for future according to the Orange County website but currently there is very little other than the information sign at the entrance.

Although a little wordy, this sign provides a great deal of information about bats and the advantage of providing houses for them. I especially liked the bat silhouette for bullets.

If I was doing a guided walk through this area, my theme: Green spaces are critical for native plants and wildlife, but connections that allow safe movement from place to place can be even more important.

AUDUBON CENTER FOR BIRDS OF PREY (CBOP)

The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is located on three acres in Maitland, FL. This area is significant for Audubon Florida...the first meeting of the then Florida Audubon Society was held in a nearby Maitland neighborhood on March 2, 1900. In 1959, a longtime supporter and board member purchased the property to provide a permanent meeting place, office and gift shop for Audubon Florida. The house itself is the last remaining grove house built in the 1920s on the shore of Lake Sybelia.

In the 1970s, the gift shop manager, Doris Mager, began to care for the sick and injured birds of prey that were brought in. After significant fundraising, the site opened as the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey on October 19, 1979 with a focus on rescue, medical treatment, rehabilitation and release of Florida's raptors.

Note: due to Covid-19 restrictions, the displays within the house are closed. Plans are to reopen in June 2021.

[Historical information from Audubon Center for Birds of Prey website]

Since the raptor trauma clinic is not open to public visitation, informative signs are on the outside of the building.

Vet techs at the trauma center are able to analyze blood samples for common issues with wildlife brought in. In the window are examples of items removed from raptors brought into clinic.

This image shows the example powerline modification OUC (and other power supplies) are adopting to reduce the number of electrocutions of Bald Eagles. A sign nearby explains their Avian Protection Plan (pictured below).

One of my most memorable experiences was releasing an American Bald Eagle that was successfully rehabilitated. Supporting the mission of the Audubon Center Birds of Prey.

When I give a guided walk through CBOP, we discuss the over 50 non-releasable raptors that are full-time residents and conservation issues facing raptors. An important part of making a connection with guests is giving a little bit about how some of the birds ended up at the center. I plan to add two small items: an owl statue and one representing humans to my docent tool kit. As we go around, I'll hold (or let guest hold post-Covid) and discuss how actions are benefiting or harming the birds. My theme is Raptors and humans are on a balance scale in the environment.