Avifauna of Hammocks and Swamps on John F. Kennedy Space Center

摘要

Birds were surveyed in oak-cabbage palm hammocks, red bay, live oak and laurel oak hammocks, hardwood swamps, and willow swamps on John F. Kennedy Space Center using the variable distance circular plot method to determine the importance of such habitats for use in environmental impact assessment. The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) and Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) were the two most abundant breeders in all woodland types. Breeders characteristic of interior central Florida were rare and did not nest in the study areas. Broad-leaved woodlands are important for the maintenance of regional avian diversity for much of coastal Florida, because several breeders, such as Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) and Barred Owls (Strix varia), nest primarily within these woodlands. These species have large territory sizes and occur in low densities, characteristics which must be considered in regional land-use planning if minimum population sizes are to be maintained.