As a consequence of staying safe at home during the COVID-19
pandemic, one of the silver linings for me and for my wife is enjoying the
wildlife in our backyard more than we usually do. I do not consider myself as a
serious birdwatcher (my wife is) but I can certainly say it’s been relaxing to watch a
pair of cardinals raise their two babies, along with the Redwing Blackbird and
Tufted Titmouse’s little ones. We regularly see Redtailed Hawks as well as Osprey
and Cormorants hunting for fish and prey. We have three bird feeders along with suet for
the songbirds We also have two ground feeders filled with cracked corn for our resident
ducks that live around our lake, which include Wood Ducks, Mallards,
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Mottled Ducks. We have also had the rare
pleasure of observing Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks and Sandhill Cranes along
with gators, otters and three types of turtles! All told, my wife has
identified 42 different birds in our little ‘aviary’ out back.
The only other place
close by for us to see all of this is The Celery Fields. It may seem to be a strange name
for the county-owned preserve and home of the Sarasota Audubon Society’s Nature
Center, so here’s a little history of yet another wonderful place to be outdoors in
my hometown.
The Celery Fields got it name because of the area’s long
history as an agricultural center where winter vegetables and, of course celery, were grown for consumption locally and for shipment nationwide. Area
roads, with names such as “Packinghouse” and “Albritton Avenue” attest to the
neighborhood’s long-standing agricultural heritage. The Celery Fields in east
Sarasota just off Fruitville Road, has been important agriculturally and
ecologically for more than 100 years, with the family of landowner Mrs. Bertha
Palmer farming vegetables, predominantly celery, in the rich muckland from
about 1920 on.
Construction of the Celery Fields began in 1923 and the main
canals were finished by 1926. An experimental farm of 2,000 acres was set up and
although different vegetables were tried, by 1927, it was decided to grow
predominantly celery. Roads were built across the area and ditches served
10-acre tracts and artesian wells served two 10-acre tracts. The fields became
part of a massive flood control project the county participated in to help
quickly move storm water from the Phillipi Creek basin after severe flooding
damaged scores of homes in the area in the aftermath of several heavy rain
events in the early 1990s. The spoil hill was formed by the dredging of the farms,
which were sold off as private units, continued to produce celery.
With the
added water diverted to the fields came more fish and with more fish, more
wading birds, especially avian hunters like Osprey’s and Kingfishers. With
input from local naturalists and other members of the local chapter of the
Audubon Society, shore vegetation like elderberry, saltbush and cord grass was
planted. In 1995, Sarasota County acquired much of the land and the
360-plus-acre site now serves for flood mitigation and lucky for us, as a home
to wildlife, walking and biking trails, birders and The Sarasota Audubon Nature
Center.
We hope The Celery Fields can remain pristine forever for
all the nature lovers out there such as ourselves. Liz and I feel grateful to not
only have it close by, but to have our very own little nature preserve right in
our own backyard. The important thing is to take the time to enjoy it. Stay safe, be well and remember to revel in all the beautiful things around you!
