Florida Lake...

A year ago this week I was in Florida on avication, exploring hundreds of thousands of acres of protected lands looking for birds.  Sigh.  Unfortunately, due to budgetary constraints, there will be no such extravagance this year.  Instead, I am determined to enjoy my local surroundings and avifauna all the more.  And though I may not be able to go to Florida this year, I can go down to Florida Lake anytime.  I am fortunate enough to live less than a half mile from this gem...

It's still mostly ice-covered now, but soon there will be American Bitterns 'gump-de-gumping' from it's edges, thousands of swallows skimming it's surface, and Wood Ducks nesting in it's tree cavities and nest boxes...

The lake was named 'Florida' because it's shape resembled the Sunshine State.  It is indeed a shining local example of land reclamation and conservation.  Some brilliant folks had the foresight to acquire multiple land parcels surrounding the lake and turn the whole area into public open space.  Approximately 167 acres were put into conservation with help from local land trusts, the Land for Maine's Future program, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  grant through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.  The area is designated by the state of Maine as High Value Wading Bird and Waterfowl Habitat and provides some of the best (and only) habitat of it's kind in the whole area.  There is now a great network of trails and more than 100 bird species have been documented on the property.  Thanks to all these conservation efforts, this is the only type of MALL that can be seen from here...

 

Historical beaver activity contributed to the great wetland habitats found at Florida Lake today.  As a result, there are some really good spots for birds like these Hooded Mergansers to hang out...

 

Apparently beavers are still hard at work creating and maintaining wildlife habitat in the area...

 

Not only do I love Florida Lake but I also happen to have a dream for it.  There exists yet another adjacent land parcel that in my opinion also needs to be acquired.  This would expand the Florida Lake area by about 30 acres.  Unfortunately, this parcel has quite literally been trashed and would need some major clean-up and costly restoration efforts...

I have a vision of beavers returning to this place and creating more and more high value habitat.  This vision includes the Least Bittern, Great Blue and Green Herons I've seen out there being able to forage in cleaner water, the breeding woodcocks and saw-whet owls not having to work around piles of trash, and hearing more than just one Whip-poor-will out there in three years.  This vision includes opening up more acreage for people and wildlife to peruse and enjoy.  Even though we're on the non-oceanfront side of L.L. Bean, I believe if we continue to rebuild it, they will come. 

Can we really put a price tag on the value of conservation lands?  To me they are priceless and worth the costs and efforts to protect.  For my dream to become a reality, a rigorous grant proposal will need to be written, matching funds will need to be secured, an ambitious restoration strategy created, and the right people convinced that taking this project on will be worthwhile for the town and it's residents.  Act locally, right?!   

I'll be needing all the luck I can get on this daunting journey of getting this parcel picked up and protected.  It will certainly be a challenging endeavor...but SO worth it!