The Story of a Bird We Call Slash

The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center is all about rehabilitation of birds so they can return to the environment and strengthen the species. The attached video tells the story of a seriously injured Great White Heron that is probably smarter than we are in his environment. Please view the video below that tells the story of "Slash the Wonder Bird".

Developers Populate the Fish and Wildlife Commission

A meeting that the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission held in the Keys a few years ago was an eye-opening experience. The purpose of the meeting was to review the lobster mini-season. This is the two day debacle when visitors come from the North with a full tank of gas and a car full of groceries, don't buy anything for two days, jam the roads and water, and terrorize the wildlife. Fortunately, in the Keys the local municipalities have taken actions to block the worst eco-terrorism. Local towns did things to protect and conserve the wildlife that the "Conservation" commissioners would not.

At that meeting it became clear that the commissioners had no concerns about the conservation of wildlife. Their only concern was about conducting business and commerce. They wanted to continue to squeeze the poor crustaceans for the last pennies.

It comes as no surprise, but it is a disappointment, that our new governor has followed the same course. "To fill three seats on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission earlier this month, Crist picked Broward County developer Ron Bergeron, Orlando development lawyer Ken Wright and Jacksonville construction company executive Kathy Barco." Read it all here.

Our Hopes and Prayers -- Moving Across the Road

Right now, the Center is in a lowland wooded area labeled FKWBC in this picture. The major problems with this area are that it floods and it has very limited parking. The limitations on parking impact our entire operation from the delivery of fish (frozen in a big truck) to parking school buses. Tourists are often discouraged from turning in because of the crowded parking conditions. The inability to park school buses limits our education program which could be important for the communities from South Miami to Key West.

Interestingly, just South of us, across the highway, is a piece of land owned by the State of Florida that would be perfect for our operation. Originally a quarry, it has invasive trees that the state has sporadically spent almost $100,000 trying to eradicate, and it has a deep and dangerous unfenced borrow pit full of water.





We would like to work a deal with the State to trade land or to lease this otherwise useless proerty, but so far the bureaucrats have their heads in the sand. We would get rid of the exotic plants, turn the property to good use, and do a lot of good for the environment. We need support, in this case political support, from the community.



Would you please email or call Rodney Barreto, the Chairman of the State Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at 850-487-3796 or rodney@thebarretogroup.com
And Michael Sole, the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection at 850-245-2011 michael.sole@dep.state.fl.us

In both cases, tell them that you support the need for the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center to relocate to the state owned property on Dove Sound. We appreciate your help.

Save the Environment-- For What?

It's fashionable to want to "do something" to save the environment. We hear of people buying "carbon credits" and we hear of massive projects to "Restore the Everglades". That's all fine, but what creatures will be living on the "saved" and "restored" planet?



The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan calls for $12 Billion to restore the environment for wildlife, but not one penny of that money is committed to saving the lives of the residents of that environment. You can preserve the environment, but the law of exponents says you do a lot more right now by saving one bird who can reproduce for generations.

About 800 birds pass through our facility a year. Right now we are getting ready for the busy migratory season in November and December. During those months we'll get an average of eight newly injured birds a day. Our job is the rehabilitation and release of those birds back into the wild so they can grow strong, reproduce, and bring us all joy.