Environmental & Extension Services - Natural Resources
The Natural Resources Division helps to protect, restore, and conserve the environmental resources of Charlotte County, such as the valuable ecosystems, along with plant and animal species. Natural Resources reviews all development activity proposed within Charlotte County for potential impacts to the soil, water, vegetation communities, and state or federally listed wildlife. Additional information on Coastal Construction, Sea Turtle Protection and Shoreline Protection is available online. These potential impacts are reviewed in conjunction with the Charlotte County codes and applicable state and federal laws. The codes associated with development review are available on-line.
All Charlotte County Codes and Ordinances are available on-line.
Fines and violations are defined at the end of each County code and are enforceable by the Charlotte County Code Compliance Section.
The Natural Resources Division is also tasked to manage Charlotte County's environmental lands. Charlotte County has been acquiring environmentally sensitive lands since the mid 1990's, through direct purchases, grant funds, and most recently the voter approved Conservation Charlotte program. To help protect, restore, and conserve these environmental resources the Natural Resources division actively manages Charlotte County's environmental lands. Land management is a necessity to protect the County's existing natural resource, allowing for increased flood control, filtering water resources, recharging the aquifer, cleaning the air, preserving the diversity of plant and animal species, and providing open spaces and recreational opportunities.
Charlotte County's Environmental Lands
Birding in Charlotte County
What is birding?
Bird watching or birding is the recreational hobby of observing different species of wild birds, including their physical characteristics and behavior. It is a hobby that can be enjoyed by both novice and experienced birders on many levels...from just watching birds through the window to traveling to the other side of the world to see a rare species. Birding is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and will help a deep appreciation of nature. Where can I go birding in Charlotte County?
Where can I go birding in Charlotte County?
Visit any of these great parks and preserves in Charlotte County:
Englewood:
Amberjack Environmental Park
Buck Creek Preserve
Cedar Point Environmental Park
Oyster Creek Regional Park
Thornton Key Preserve
Mid-County:
Tippecanoe Environmental Park
Tippecanoe II Mitigation Area
Audubon-Pennington Nature Park
Kiwanis Park
Ollie's Pond Park
Sunrise Park
East County:
Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park
Deep Creek Preserve
Hathaway Park
Prairie Creek Preserve
Shell Creek Preserve
What will I see?
The official Florida bird list stands at 485 species making Florida is the most diverse state east of the Mississippi River. Florida's high degree of bird diversity can be attributed to the diversity of habitats, the extent of remaining wildlands, the geographic span of both temperate and subtropical climates, and the location on migration.
Charlotte County has ample opportunities to enjoy birding. Charlotte County's environmental parks and preserves provide a wide variety of habitats that support a diverse assemblage of bird species. There are also a number of state parks surrounding Charlotte Harbor that provide additional birding opportunities. Charlotte County is home to diverse population of birds including Northern Bobwhite, Sandhill Crane, Bald Eagle, Reddish Egret, Purple Gallinule, Red-shouldered Hawk, Green Heron, Florida Scrub Jay, Belted Kingfisher, Swallow-tailed Kite, Yellow-crowned Night-heron, Burrowing Owl, American Oystercatcher, White Pelican, Snowy Plover, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Black Skimmer, Bachman's Sparrow, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-necked Stilt, Wood Stork, Royal Tern, White-eyed Vireo, Pine Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker.
All it takes to get started as a birder is binoculars and a simple field guide. Don't forget to take along water, sunscreen and bug spray.
Birds Commonly found on Charlotte County's Environmental Lands
For more information visit:
www.peaceriveraudubon.org
www.veniceaudubon.org
www.audubon.org
www.floridabirdingtrail.com
For more information
Charlotte County Environmental & Extension Services
25550 Harbor View Road, Unit 2, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
941.764.4360
