FLORIDA GREAT WHITE HERON Ardea o . occidentalis Audubon 



Order: CICONIIFORMES Family: ARDEIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : The largest heron native to the United States; pure 

 white with yellow beak and yellowish legs . 



Present distribution : Breeds in Florida Keys, Florida Bay, and southern peninsular 

 Florida north to southern Biscayne Bay (Arsenicker Keys) on the Atlantic Coast and to 

 Cape Romano on the Gulf Coast. Disperses regularly (mostly immature birds) to the 

 interior of extreme southern mainland Florida (Tamiami Trail), to Dry Tortugas, and 

 on both coasts to Tampa Bay and Cape Kennedy. Wandering birds occasionally found 

 farther north along both Florida coasts , and more rarely in adjacent States . Another 

 race of this species occurs elsewhere in the Caribbean region. 



Former distribution : Same. Old reports of breeding north to Tampa Bay probably 

 unreliable . 



Status : Total population very small although common within its range, which is very 

 restricted. Subject to extreme reduction by hurricanes; 22 known to have perished 

 as a result of Hurricane Betsy in 1965. 



Estimated numbers : Based on recent aerial counts, 2,000 adults - of which about 

 1,500 in Everglades National Park, 400 in National Wildlife Refuges of Lower Florida 

 Keys, and 100 in Florida Keys aside from above, and scattered along coast of 

 southern Florida . 



Breeding rate in the wild : 2-5 (usually 2 or 3) young per year. 



Reasons for decline : Illegal hunting (formerly) and mortality caused by hurricanes. 

 P.educed to about 150 after September 1935 hurricane. Everglades National Park 

 (Florida Bay) population suffered adult mortality of about 359 (40 percent) from 

 Hurricane Donna of September 1960. This loss was regained by 1963. Damage to the 

 habitat by hurricanes is apparently of little importance. 



Protective measures already taken : Everglades National Park and the Great White 

 Heron, Key Deer and Key West National Wildlife Refuges protect virtually the entire 

 range . Protected by Florida State law . Studies intended to clarify the relationship 

 between this species and the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias ) and to ascertain the 

 amount of movement and interchange between the Lower Keys and Florida Bay populations 

 are in progress . The former should give an estimate of the likelihood of loss of the 

 Great White Heron by interbreeding with Great Blues. The latter should permit better 

 understanding of repopulation after extirpation by hurricanes in a portion of the range 

 which seems likely to be a recurring factor in the history of the species . 



Measures proposed : Continued strict law enforcement to prevent shooting . Maintain 

 habitat in its natural state, particularly those Keys used for nesting. Regulate use of 

 mosquito control poisons in feeding areas . 



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