Clam Bayou - Almost a Secret

Many kinds of environments meet at the Clam Bayou estuary. Freshwater from springs and rain runoff come together in a weave of creeks. Because of Florida's gentle slope, these streams braid their way into wide mud flats where birds wade and many animals live and feed.

You can reach Clam Bayou by traveling south on 37th Street South from 22nd Ave in St Pete. (There's a 22nd Ave South exit from 275 - exit west to reach 37th Street.) Turn left (south) on 37th Street. Turn right (west) on 34th Ave to the park entrance.

Although this preserve is currently a work in progress - jointly directed by the City of St. Petersburg and the SWIM unit of SFTMD* under aquatic engineer Brandt Henningsen - it's already a great place to bird.

Much invasive removal has already taken place along with some native plantings around the kayak launch point. Future restoration plans include the creation of a polishing pond system meandering through the 50 or so acres enhanced by native plantings, and the Pinellas Trail will also be continued on the outskirts of the preserve.

This October 2005, members of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and St. Petersburg Audubon Society are volunteering to install 540 native plants, mostly trees, which will fill the islands left from the polishing pond creation.

The following photographs show birds we've seen on our several forays in 2005. It's never boring at Clam Bayou.

	We always see one if not several Bald Eagles roosting, like this beauty who is one of a pair. And the mate below.

This third year immature Bald Eagle was another regular in 2005.
A Pair of Pileated Woodpeckers nested there and we were privileged to observe some of the process.
A Northern Flicker pair was there as well
	Two American Kestrels spent the the beginning of the year hunting at Clam Bayou. Here's one perched on the Woodpecker's Snag.
Countless wading and shore birds including Cattle Egret, various herons, Belted Kingfishers and Osprey galore can be easily observed here. Might put it on your list for migrants as well, as we certainly observed various small songbird species at Clam Bayou this spring. Hope you give the place a try. It's almost always empty of human visitors at this point in it's development, which makes it terrific for listening and looking for birds to observe. Photos and text by Lorraine Margeson for Clearwater Audubon. SWFMD is the South West Florida Water Management District. You've heard it pronounced swiftmud*.