L. Chandler -- NPS Photo

The nature trail winds through the shady coolness of the maritime forest.

Nature at Fort Matanzas National Monument

The original national monument site consistedof only the fort on Rattlesnake Island. Throughthe years, however, the National Park Servicehas acquired additional land on both Rattlesnakeand Anastasia Islands and has been able to preserve a slice of an intact barrier island ecosystem.The river and ocean beaches as well as the .6 milenature trail offer visitors the opportunity to view avariety of plants and wildlife native to this ecosystem.

Natural Resource Management

The park's natural resource manager is participating in several
studies and projects to find out more about the plants and animals
in the park and how best to protect and interpret them.

Click to read his report for December 2010,     January 2011,     February 2011,    
March 2011,     May 2011, June 2011, July 2011,
August 2011,    September 2011,      October 2011,  November 2011,   December 2011,     January 2012 (Great Raccoon Caper)

Upcoming Nature Programs at Fort Matanzas

February 11 -- Bird Walk with Veronica -- 9:30 - 11:30 am.  
Meet at the visitor center, bring water and binoculars, and dress for the weather. The Owls are back! Veronica will be presenting her bird walk the second Saturday of the month through May.

February 18 -- Barrier Island Dynamics -- 9:30 - 11:00 am. Join retired geology professor Garry Anderson for a walk to explore how barrier islands like Anastasia Island are formed and why and how they are forever changing. Wear shoes suitable for walking, and dress for the weather.

Patsy Lewis - Used by Permission

Two chicks last year! Photo taken 2/15/11

The Owls are Back!!

Updated Feb. 4, 2012
We have two Chicks! The one hatched around Jan. 19 is getting bigger and was moving around this morning, exercising its stubby wings. Its fuzzy sibling was also looking out over the rim of the nest with its big, yellow eyes.

Jan. 27, 2012--
We have a Chick! It was suspected that an egg/eggs had hatched because a week ago, Mom was sitting high on the nest. This week it was confirmed when one, fuzzy chick made its appearance. The nest is so high and surrounded by small branches that it is difficult to see whether there is more than one at this time.

Dec. 30, 2011--
She has been on the nest for two weeks now. Incubation is 4-5 weeks, and it takes another week before the tiny, fuzzy chick is visible. By the end of January, there should be chicks to see!

Dec. 18, 2011--
The female owl has started sitting! She has chosen a used squirrel's nest high in a cedar tree and has been on this nest since Dec. 15.

Nov. 27, 2011--Two years ago a pair of Great Horned Owls nested in a tree right behind the visitor center, and, to the delight of visitors and staff, they produced one chick to fledging. Last year they returned and hatched two chicks.

It appears that the pair must like the area because they are back. Staff have been hearing them hooting sweet nothings in each others' ears for the past month. The courting behavior should continue on through December before they choose a spot for their nest. Unlike most birds, they do not really make a nest, as such. The first year it was just a flat place on a branch. Last year they took over an abandoned squirrel's nest. Keep checking back for further updates.

Click HERE for general information about Great Horned Owls.

Take a look at some owl photos from the 2010 nesting:

Kay Wells: 1 2 3 4

Patsy Jane Lewis: 1 2 3 4 5 6

(Pictures used by permission and all rights reserved by the photographer.)

L. Chandler -- NPS Photo

A Diverse Ecosystem

Fort Matanzas National Monument protects a variety of habitats for many different species of plants and animals. Click HERE to explore the different habitats of Fort Matanzas.

K. Krysko -- Used by Permission

Snakes and Turtles and Frogs, Oh My!

During 1998 and 1999, Dr. F. Wayne King from the University of Florida conducted an extensive survey of the reptiles and amphibians found at Fort Matanzas National Monument. Click HERE for the results of his study complete with information on each species' ecology and habitat and photographs like this one of a red rat snake (corn snake), one of the beautiful, non-poisonous snakes at Fort Matanzas.

Critter of the Month

Click on the star to read about the Matanzas Critter of the Month, one of the many animals who calls Fort Matanzas National Monument its home.  Come back next month and discover a different Matanzas Critter.

GTMNERR

The area around Fort Matanzas National Monument is also part of the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), one of 25 such reserves in the United States. Designated in 1999, GTMNERR is a federal/state partnership administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.


                        Click HERE to visit the GTMNERR website.