ENGLEWOOD – The Environmental Conservancy of North Port and Surrounding Areas is working to raise $15,000 by Sept. 5 to buy a quarter-acre in a known Florida Scrub-Jay habitat area on Clearwater Street in Englewood.
Barbara Lockhart, president of the nonprofit conservancy’s board of directors, noted that it has been trying to acquire a parcel in that area – in Charlotte County, east of Winchester Boulevard − for two years because the area is rich in wildlife.
As of Aug. 11, the conservancy had raised $6,046 towards the $15,000 purchase price of Lot 8 on Clearwater Street.
If the fundraiser is successful, this would be the 48th property the organization has protected and the second one in Englewood.
To date, the grassroots nonprofit has protected 14.25-acres in North Port, south Sarasota County and Charlotte County.
What type of land is targeted?
The Environmental Conservancy targets parcels that can become “stepping stone” habitat areas for Florida Scrub-Jays and migrating birds, as well as habitat for other species, such as gopher tortoises.
The quarter-acre lot on Clearwater Street has abundant native plants and trees and is in a designated Charlotte County Florida Scrub-jay zone that hosts documented populations of the Scrub-jay, Chuck Will’s Widow, Northern Bobwhite Quail, Gopher Tortoise, annual-nesting Screech Owls, Bobcat and other wildlife.
The non-profit got its start in the spring of 2020 in North Port, targeting Florida Scrub-jay habitat. It quickly expanded to include land in unincorporated Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
As development progresses, gopher tortoises are relocated but Florida Scrub-jay are left to fend for themselves.
It receives no government funding, with all money coming from fundraising events and donations.
In addition to purchasing land, the all-volunteer board on the non-profit allocates funds to maintain the properties and trail cameras to monitor wildlife. It has also conducted limited tours of some of the preserved parcels.
Here’s how to donate
Donations are being taken through a variety of ways, including online and by check.
A GoFundMe page can be found at https://gofund.me/17086930.
Venmo contributions can be made to @NPconservancy, or PayPal donations can be made at the nonprofit’s website: https://www.ecnorthpot.com.
Checks payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. can be mailed to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, Florida, 34286.
For more information, email NPconservancy@gmail.com, call or text 941-218-9775, visit https://ecnorthport.com; on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECnorthport; or @npconservancy on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Grassroots group faces Sept. 5 fundraising deadline to buy prime Florida Scrub-Jay habitat
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
