Saturday, March 4, from 8 AM to around noon

Remove Intrusive Trees to Restore Flatwoods at MacKay Gardens Conservation Area

City of Lake Alfred

We’ll be cutting down way-too-abundant oaks to help restore the conservation area to its natural state of scrubby flatwoods. We'll be using hand saws, loppers, and chainsaws (for those qualified) to remove intruding trees in the conservation area at Mackay Gardens.

This is a follow-up event to complete the Ridge Ranger efforts started on December 10.

For details, location map, and to sign up please see http://outreach.myfwc.com/event/MackayMarch2017

More than just a city park, Mackay Gardens has a large conservation area with FWC habitat management overview.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017, from 9 AM to around noon

Kestrel Nest Box Survey Training

FWC Royce Unit, near Lake Placid

Looking for help for FWC’s annual Kestrel Nest Box Surveys! The surveys are done once per month April through June at six different sites in the Lake Placid/Avon Park area, and are done with another trained person at the team’s convenience.

This is the training for the surveys, where you’ll learn about:

• The threatened Southeastern American Kestrel and how this survey helps
• Survey Protocol
• Use of the Peeper Scope Camera System
• Smart phone app for data recording (optional)

This training has both a classroom portion and hands-on section in the field at a nearby kestrel box. See http://outreach.myfwc.com/event/KestrelTraining2017 for the details and to sign up!

The Southeastern American Kestrel (Falco sparverius paulus) is a non-migratory subspecies of kestrel found in open pine savannahs, sandhills, prairies, and pastures in Florida and the southeastern United States. It is listed as threatened in Florida due to a decline in nesting and foraging habitat. In the training you'll learn how biologists are using nest box programs to increase populations of this rare bird.

Saturday, March 11, from 8 AM to around noon.

Clear Vegetation to Protect Long Leaf Pines

FWC Henscratch/27, on US 27 north of Lake Placid,

We’ll be using loppers, hand saws, and brush cutters to clear the vegetation and small bushes around Longleaf Pines to help protect them during upcoming controlled burns. 

For location map, details, and to sign up; please see http://outreach.myfwc.com/event/HenscratchMar2017

The Henscratch/27 site is part of FWC's Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area and has both of the unique Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem Habitats: Oak Scrub and Sandhill. We’ll be working in the Sandhill habitat, which requires Longleaf Pines and occasional fire. Clearing the brush around the pines helps to protect them during prescribed fire management.

Saturday, March 25, from 9 AM to around noon.

Remove Invasive Natal Grass - Warea Tract

Near Clermont

We'll be hand pulling invasive Natal Grass and placing into plastic bags while walking in Sandhill habitat at the Warea Tract of the Seminole State Forest.

Please see http://outreach.myfwc.com/event/WareaMar2017 for directions, details, and to register. This workday will be led by Michael Jenkins of the Florida Forest Service.

The Warea Tract is an outparcel of the Seminole State Forest and was purchased for its incredible botanical diversity. Unfortunately, Natal Grass is invading from surrounding residential developments and needs to be removed by hand to protect the native plants.

Saturday, April 8, from 9 AM to around 2 PM.

Ridge Rangers Get-Together

Highlands Hammock State Park, near Sebring.

All active Ridge Rangers are reminded that we’ll be having the annual Ridge Ranger’s Get-Together at Highlands Hammock State Park on Saturday, April 8. Along with the luncheon we’ll be doing a BioBlitz led by FWC’s Peter Kleinhenz  -- will be very interesting and educational! Separate email with the details going out shortly.

Saturday, April 15, two start times, wrapping up at noon.

Calling all photographers - Spring Photo Blitz

FWC Royce Unit, near Lake Placid

If you’re interested in nature photography as well as volunteering, this is an opportunity to see and take pictures of three very special areas at the Royce Unit … and afterwards we’ll also be doing a short optional work effort in one of Royce’s habitat restoration areas.

You can start at either 7 or 8 AM … the early start is to see the birds in the wetlands area, and at 8 AM we’ll move in vehicles and catch the rising sun in cutthroat seep and scrub oak habitats.

All participants will have a chance to post three photographs of their choosing on the famous Ridge Rangers Facebook Page!

Have room for 20 persons – see the details and sign up at http://outreach.myfwc.com/event/RoycePhotoBlitz

The FWC Royce Unit is part of the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area, and has one of the largest cutthroat grass (Panicum abscissum) seeps remaining on the Lake Wales Ridge, which we’ll be seeing at one of the stops.