VanOrman Roadtrips: Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Three Lakes W.M.A. located by Lake Kissimmee south of Orlando is an important natural area in central Florida. Three Lakes includes a variety of habitats including dry prairies, pine flatwoods, and cypress domes. I worked an area consisting of longleaf pine trees with an understory of saw palmettos. Under natural conditions lightning-ignited fires would spread quickly through the palmetto and underbrush but spare most of the pine trees because of their thick bark. This allowed pine to dominate at the expense of easier killed hardwoods. Now days, controlled burns mimic the effects of the naturally caused fires.
Birds seen in the habitat include Common Nighthawk, Northern Bobwhite, Brown Thrasher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Towhee, Eastern Bluebird, and Bachman's Sparrow.
My target bird, however, was the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This small black and white woodpecker has been intensely studied and it is nearly impossible to find an adult that has not been banded by researchers. All of this research has led to some interesting findings. The birds are cooperative breeders in that they form family groups consisting of an adult male and female along with 1-4 helpers which are often young from the previous year. This family group will control a cluster of trees that have been excavated in the past. These nesting or roost trees may be used for many years. They will drill small holes above and below the entrance hole called "resin wells". The tiny holes exude sticky resin which is thought to protect the inhabitants from climbing snakes and other predators.