ENGLEWOOD – The Environmental Conservancy of North Port and Surrounding Areas closed Sept. 5 on the purchase of a quarter-acre lot in prime Florida Scrub-Jay habitat on Clearwater Street, after raising the $15,000 purchase price.
The grassroots nonprofit 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.
Since the nonprofit launched in the spring of 2020, it has protected 14.5 acres in North Port, south Sarasota County and Charlotte County, including the Clearwater Street parcel.
It now protects 48 properties that are meant to provide “stepping stone” habitats for the Florida scrub-jay and migrating birds, as well as habitat for other species, such as gopher tortoises.
As development progresses, gopher tortoises are relocated, but Florida scrub-jays are left to fend for themselves.
Why was this parcel targeted?
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 owl, bobcat and other wildlife.
Who funds the Environmental Conservancy?
The Environmental Conservancy of North Port and Surrounding Areas receives no governmental funding.
All money comes from fundraising events and donations – primarily when it sends out an appeal to buy specific parcels, such as the one on Clearwater Street, which was its second parcel in Englewood.
In addition to purchasing land, the all-volunteer board allocates funds to maintain the properties and trail cameras to monitor wildlife. It has also conducted limited tours of some of the preserved parcels. For more information, visit ecnorthport.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Nonprofit buys Englewood parcel in prime Florida scrub-jay habitat
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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