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The Deering Estate is home to many types of wildlife. Birds and butterflies, however, are some of the most exciting to see when walking on the Estate’s trails. As an Estate dedicated to conservation, guests get to see many rare species such as the Ruddy Daggerwing, a gorgeous orange butterfly with black stripes running down its wings. For visitors, there are many activities to do in order to experience the beauty of the birds and butterflies at Deering Estate.
The Bird Walk, generally held on the second Saturday of each month from October to May, takes guests through the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail to see some of its estimated 200 resident and migratory bird species. The Estate is part of the Biscayne Bay IBA, or Important Birding Area, and is considered a vital habitat for the conservation of different bird populations. For avid birdwatchers, this walk is an exciting opportunity to see many rare species such as the Mangrove Cuckoo, White-crowned Pigeon, and Black-whiskered Vireo. The Deering Estate also participates in the Audubon Christmas Bird Counts. Various Miami residents get to participate in this citizen-science project, reporting the different types of birds they see. In 2018, 137 bird species were reported, including the Laughing Gull and the Turkey Vulture. These sightings are reported using the website known as e-Bird. Users simply submit lists of the birds they observed throughout the day. To check out some of the more recent sightings, visit: https://ebird.org/explore.
The Butterfly Walk is another popular activity at Deering Estate. This tour allows visitors to explore many different habitats and search for the wonderful species found at the Estate. Guests will have the chance to see butterflies such as the Dina Yellow Butterfly and Atala Butterfly. The Atala Butterfly is especially remarkable to see with its bright orange abdomen and dark, black wings with ultramarine spots. The Butterfly Walks are normally held on the fourth Saturday of each month from June to September around 11 AM. The Deering Estate also participates in the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Butterfly Counts as part of their conservation of these beautiful creatures. These counts essentially consist of a compilation of all the butterflies observed within a site in a one-day period.
Here is an interview with Rangel Diaz, the resident birder at Deering Estate. He runs all of the Bird Walks at Deering Estate and conducts the Christmas Bird Counts and the NABA butterfly surveys. Here, he discusses his favorite butterflies and birds and their importance in South Florida:
Q: What is so special about the butterflies and birds featured at the Deering Estate?
A: Deering Estate is an amazing location for wildlife viewing because it is located on the northern range of several species. This means that there are different plants and animals that are typically not found north of Miami-Dade County. Due to our large, protected area, the flora and fauna have been able to thrive without many direct effects of habitat destruction or urban development. There are several threatened and endangered species found on the property as well as specialty species that will not typically be found in the United States outside of South Florida.
Q: What was the deciding factor that got you interested in birds?
A: I have always been interested in wildlife, but it was not until I began working for Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces in 2006 that I began to focus on birds. Walking along a path at A.D. “Doug” Barnes Park I saw a male Hooded Warbler and that sparked my obsession with birds and birdwatching.
Q: Why is it so important to conserve the birds and butterflies featured at Deering Estate?
A: It is important to conserve the bird and butterflies found at Deering Estate because we are the last stronghold for many of them in the United States. Species like Dingy Purplewing, Dina Yellow, Mangrove Cuckoo, and Black-whiskered Vireo have to utilize the habitat at Deering Estate because there is not much left in South Florida. The same rock ridge that allows the Tropical Hardwood Rockland Hammock to grow was desired for development and there is little left that has not already been altered.
Q: What do you do in the NABA butterfly surveys and how does that help with conservation?
A: The NABA surveys are annual counts done on the property (and surrounding areas) to catalog diversity as well as population density. It is an important citizen science project that produces data that can be used to establish and influence new environmental policies. During the count, a team will survey an area and count each species seen as well as tallying the individuals of each species. It gives great insight into population trends and other dynamics.
Q: What purpose does the Important Birding Area serve?
A: Being designated an Important Birding Area serves the purpose of showing the importance of that piece of habitat. Usually, IBAs are areas that are critical for nesting, providing wintering habitat as well as stopovers during migration. Without them, many species would suffer because there would not be enough resources available in the surrounding areas.
Q: What do you enjoy most about the various trails at Deering Estate?
A: My favorite part of the trail system at Deering Estate is being able to walk along them and not hear the usual sounds of the city while still being less than a mile from a major road. It allows someone the ability to experience what the area would have been like over 100 years ago in person as opposed to using the internet or books for photos.
Join Rangel on his next Bird Walk, which will be held on April 10th from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM. For more information, click the link here: https://deeringestate.org/event/bird-walk/2021-04-10/.
