Saturiwa Conservation Area

Saturiwa Conservation Area Private conservation area acquired and managed for future generations. Tours by appointment only.🌱

06/10/2026

Wildlife Wednesday: a lesson in ornithology.

Red bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is one of our most common and vocal woodpeckers known for rolling “churr” calls and habit of visiting feeders. Despite the name, the faint red wash on their belly is often hard to see; their bold red cap and black-and-white barred back are more noticeable.

These agile climbers live in a variety of natural pine and deciduous forests, as well as man-made habitats such as suburban areas. This woodpecker is omnivorous, eating insects, fruits, nuts, and seeds. They will frequent feeders for suet, peanuts and sunflower seeds. Like most woodpeckers, they nest in tree cavities, often reused or excavated in snags (dead trees). Red-bellied Woodpeckers actively gather nuts, seeds, and insects, storing them in tree crevices, under pine tree bark to eat later (**see video). These birds have excellent spatial memory and frequently return to their hidden caches when fresh food sources become scarce.

By offering nest boxes and maintaining native snags, you’re helping preserve their habitat and support local biodiversity of many other cavity nesters.🌱

Throwback Thursday: A lesson in regional natural history.Colonial naturalist, artist, & author William (Billy) Bartram &...
06/04/2026

Throwback Thursday: A lesson in regional natural history.

Colonial naturalist, artist, & author William (Billy) Bartram & his father John first explored the Southeast U.S. in 1765 & 1766. They were inventorying plants & seeking the source(s) of the St. Johns River. Billy returned in 1774 on a mission to identify, describe, & document the plants, animals, & native peoples he encountered.

In his journal, he mentions vast pine savanna forests. He wrote vivid descriptions of "open airy groves of the superb turpentine pines" & recorded how indigenous communities chewed the resin of the turpentine-producing trees to sweeten their breath. Billy noted the seemingly endless, fire-swept pine barrens of the coastal plain, noting the natural beauty & ecological resilience of these turpentine-producing pine forests, which included primarily the Longleaf Pine, Pinus palustris.

His accounts effectively captured these distinct longleaf pine habitats before they were completely altered by intense human exploitation. The trees Bartram recorded were of immense economic importance during the colonial, Revolutionary, & industrial eras. The resin / thick sap oozing from these pines was harvested to manufacture tar, pitch, & turpentine. Called “naval stores,” these chemical byproducts were essential for caulking the joints of wooden ships, waterproofing ropes, & preserving maritime hardware.

In his book ‘Travels’, Bartram noted the unique hydrology ‘ geology of the regions where these pines grew. Modern science confirms his observations, noting that the "turpentine pine" is highly fire-tolerant & uses its thick sap to naturally repel invading insects. Bartram’s records served as a critical historical baseline. In later centuries, millions of acres of these longleaf pine forests were systematically "bled" for the turpentine industry, leaving behind scarred tree stumps (to become known as cat-faces) across the Southern landscape. Around 1904, University of Georgia chemist Dr. Charles Herty invented a clay cup to efficiently collect the resin. Today, conservationists & land managers frequently reference Bartram’s detailed ecological descriptions from ‘Travels’. 🌱

06/04/2026

Big alligator!@

Wildlife Wednesday -- a lesson in ornithology. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a stocky bird, 2 ...
06/03/2026

Wildlife Wednesday -- a lesson in ornithology.
The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a stocky bird, 2 ft. tall with about a 4 ft. wingspan. This handsome blue-gray wading bird has a black-and-white patterned head and distinct yellow-white crown. In our state, they are permanent, year-round residents that primarily inhabit coastal mangroves, marshes, and forested wetlands along the St. Johns River and its tributaries, where they forage for crustaceans, particularly crabs and crayfish.

Unlike most herons, they are largely crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) or nocturnal, and possess large red-orange eyes adapted for low-light hunting. They possess highly acidic stomachs for shell digestion and thick, powerful bills specially adapted to crack open shells. Their nesting activity typically peaks between March and June.
Photo by Carole Adams — 3 Yellow-crowned Night Herons perched at top of large Cypress tree on Saturiwa shoreline 🌱

Various small blooms from AM walk 🌱
06/01/2026

Various small blooms from AM walk 🌱

A male, green anole (Anolis carolinensis) showing off his bright red dewlap, whilst perched on canoe 🌱
05/27/2026

A male, green anole (Anolis carolinensis) showing off his bright red dewlap, whilst perched on canoe 🌱

05/26/2026

Watch ‘til the end for close-ups 👍🌱

What a cutie! 🌱
05/25/2026

What a cutie! 🌱

Wild flower Wednesday - a lesson in regional botany.Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is more than just a roadside ...
05/20/2026

Wild flower Wednesday - a lesson in regional botany.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is more than just a roadside and wetland shrub. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees are attracted to the plant’s delicate, spherical flowers. Buttonbush’s seeds offer food for wetland-dwelling birds, and its leaves provide shelter for ducks, anhingas, and other native birds.🐝🦆

Buttonbush is classified either as a shrub or as a small tree. Gardeners enjoy this plant because it is one of Florida’s native nectar resources. It usually grows up to 10 feet and spreads across 6 to 8 feet. Without pruning, it will occupy a considerable amount of border space along a freshwater shoreline. After flowering, the flower heads become a brown fruit that splits into small nuts. Though buttonbush flowers in the warmer months, the fruits persist through the winter and provide a valuable, hearty wildlife food source.🌱

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2425 County Road 13 S
Elkton, FL
32033

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+19045040779

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