Page 2 - The Shores of Jupiter - March '20

Page 2, The Shores
Deadline for the April Issue Northern Notes

is March 17 Living With The Endangered

Mail or e-mail to:
Bill Thompson, 18583 Lake Bend Drive Snail Kite
ws.thompson@comcast.net By Katie Roundtree,
Finance Director,
Northern Palm Beach
County Improvement
Disclaimer
Copy appearing herewith may not be the viewpoint of District few inches of water are vulnerable. After capturing a snail, the
The Shores Board of Directors or its newsletter editor. Nor Our logo at Northern Palm kite pries it open and, using its curved bill, cuts the snail from
should responsibility be assigned for accuracy or validity or Beach County Improvement the shell. Sometimes this feat is performed while in flight!
articles contributed by residents or other articles chosen by the District consists of a picture Snail kites have been protected by state and federal law
publisher or the editor. of a bird within a circle under the Endangered Species Act since 1967, making it
surrounded by our name. illegal to harass, kill, capture or collect them. This includes
Not many people know protection from activities that disrupt normal breeding, feeding
Realtime Property Management what that bird is though. It or sheltering. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
of South Florida LLC is an Everglades snail kite Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Beth White, RPA, LCAM, President/CEO (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) a crow-sized hawk, which protect nest sites by posting signs around sensitive areas during
bwhite@realtimepm.com is easily identified by the white patch at the base of its tail. the breeding season. Always avoid posted areas, particularly
140 Intracoastal Drive, Ste. 403 It has a unique curved bill designed to quickly pluck snails from February through August, and stay back at least 500 feet
Jupiter, FL 33477 from their shells. Adult males are slate-gray, while females from warning signs.
are brown with varying amounts of white streaks on the face, Snail kites will leave their nest when bothered, but may not
chest and neck. A unique trait of both sexes is that they have aggressively defend it from people or predators. They may fly
red eyes. away or just sit nearby until the intruder is gone. This behavior
The Shores Of Jupiter Homeowners Snail kites can be found in Central and South America, can lead people to think that their presence is not bothering
Association Inc. but the Everglade snail kite (R. s. plumbeus) is the only the birds; however, any time a nest is untended the chicks or
Board Of Directors, Committee subspecies found in the United States. Their entire U.S. range eggs are vulnerable to predators and harsh temperatures. The
is restricted to South Florida, where they can be found in longer the nest is exposed, the greater the chance of failure.
Board Of Directors: shallow freshwater marshes, like those of the Everglades, or The best way you can help snail kites is to avoid posted nesting
David Lindley, President ................................. 743-5522 along the shallow, grassy shorelines of lakes. Both habitats areas and to report any harassment or disturbance to FWC’s
Emily O’Mahoney, Vice President .................. 747-9048 have a mixture of short plants and open water, making them Wildlife Alert Rewards Program at (888) 404-FWCC (3922).
Bill Thompson, Secretary ............................... 762-1832
Mike Stevens, Treasurer .................................. 575-0393 great places for kites to see and catch apple snails as they climb Source: www.myfwc.com.
Steve Jackson, Director ................................... 743-1608 to the surface to breathe. NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
Art Cummings, Director ................................. 743-0047 Snail kites only eat apple snails, which they hunt by flying waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays, using
Andrea Peralta, Director ................................. 748-3463 low over the water while searching for their prey near the up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen
surface. Snail kites do not plunge into the water to capture levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can
Architectural Control And Documents Committee: snails and never use the bill to capture prey. Rather, they use kill fish. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage weed
Art Cummings, Chair ...................................... 743-0047 their feet to capture snails at or below the surface of the water. and algae growth. Perhaps most importantly, pet waste carries
Emily O’Mahoney, Vice Chair ........................ 747-9048 Only snails that are breathing air, laying eggs or crawling in a diseases which make water unsafe.
Lakes And Parks Committee:
Dave Lindley, Chair ........................................ 743-5522
Landscaping And Irrigation Committee: Town Of Jupiter News
Emily O’Mahoney, Chair ................................ 747-9048
Crime And Safety Committee:
Bill Thompson, Chair ...................................... 762-1832 By Ilan Kaufer, Town Of • Development of a home improvement grant program
Welcoming Committee: Jupiter Councilman for veterans – Added.
Andrea Peralta ................................................. 748-3463 Hope your March is off • Discussion of development of a paid family leave
Infrastructure to a great start. It’s a great program for Town employees – Added.
Steve Jackson, Chair ....................................... 748-1608 month to get outdoors • Public discussion by council of use of open space
Communications Newsletter Editor: and also get out for some funds approved by 2019 referendum – Not Added.
Bill Thompson, Chair ...................................... 762-1832 baseball! • Exploration of improvements to aquatic recreation
Realtime Property Management of South Florida Last month, all except facilities and swim safety programming including
LLC: one of my proposed discussion with the county about the North County
Beth White ...................................................... 763-0086 strategic initiatives Aquatic Center – Added.
bwhite@realtimepm.com were added to the list of Additionally, my 2019 initiatives aimed at reducing
priorities for this year DUIs and improvement of bike lanes on our roads will
except one. A list of those continue into 2020.
Editorial copy appearing herewith is not necessarily the viewpoint of priorities is provided below. I look forward to your As always please contact me with any comments
Seabreeze Publications of Central Florida. Most editorial copy is created by thoughts and comments on them since these are not or questions at ilank@jupiter.fl.us and follow me on
the homeowners and is edited by their appointed editor. yet adopted but will come back to the council for Facebook at www.facebook.com/Councilorkaufer or on
consideration this year after staff development and public twitter @Councilorkaufer..
input.
• Formation of strategic partnership with the
Loxahatchee River District and/or Palm Beach County to
enhance water quality and oyster bed/sea grass and other
habitat rehabilitation projects – Added.
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