Based on our limited surveys, hurricane damage to habitats in this refuge ranged from moderate to severe and catastrophic (Figs. 10 and 11). Older and taller (~10 m) mangrove forests may have sustained more severe damage than mangroves with less stature. Live oak hammocks sustained moderate damage (mostly broken limbs) with rare occurrences of uprooted or snapped trees (Fig. 12). Impoundment aquatic habitat and sea grass beds in the refuge estuary appeared to have only slight to no damage. Wading birds foraged in fairly large numbers (25-50) in impoundments and estuary sea grass beds at low tide during our field survey on 22 September 2004 (Fig. 13). Based on our surveys, most of the severe to catastrophic damage occurred on the northwestern side of the refuge, especially at Shell Mound Trail and next to the powerline rights-of-way areas, which were closer to the eye of the storm (Table 1).

- Figure 10. Moderate damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, to mangrove habitat along Wildlife Drive, “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Florida, photographed 21 September 2004. [larger image] - Figure 11. Severe damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, to mangrove habitat on the Shell Mound Trail, “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Florida, photographed 21 September 2004. [larger image]

- Figure 12. Moderate damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, to upland live oak forests near “Legion Curve,” “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Florida, photographed 22 September 2004. [larger image] - Figure 13. Seagrass beds at low tide along Wildlife Drive, “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Florida, photographed 21 September 2004. Twenty to 30 wading birds were foraging in the area. [larger image]

Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge

Lumpkin Island. Hurricane Charley caused severe to catastrophic damage to vegetation on the island (Fig. 14). Upon entry to the island's interior, we located nests of night herons (Nycticorox sp. unknown) and one nestling <14 days old (~35-40 days after eggs were laid, Baicich and Harrison, 1997). We also observed juvenile White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) ca. 4-5 weeks old (almost fledged), which means eggs were first laid 49-56 days previously or about 8 to 15 days before the storm.

Figure 14. Catastrophic damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on the island edge (left) and interior (right) of Lumpkin Island, Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 23 September 2004. [click on the images above to view larger versions]

Upper Bird Island. This small rookery island sustained moderate damage from Hurricane Charley (Fig. 15). The island contained mangroves and limited upland habitat, covered in dense shrub-scrub habitat with patches of grasses and bare sand. Most of the trees and shrubs had leaves, but the island's edge sustained moderate damage from wind and waves. Birds were not observed roosting on the island.

Figure 15. Moderate damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on Upper Bird Island (left), island edge (middle) and interior (right), Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 23 September 2004. [click on the images above to view larger versions]

Givney Key. We found moderate storm damage to vegetation on the island with ca. 50% leaf cover remaining on shrubs and mangroves (Fig. 16). We also observed more than 20 White Ibis nests in low shrubs on the island. Twelve nestlings, estimated at 3-5 weeks old, were observed in the shrubs or on the ground near the nests, which indicates that nests and eggs survived the storm (see Lumpkin Island, above).

Figure 16. Moderate damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on Givney Key: island edge (left) and interior (right), Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 23 September 2004. [click on the images above to view larger versions]

Lower Bird Island. Upon close approach to the island we observed moderate damage, mainly loss of leaf cover in sections of the island (Fig. 17). We found moderate damage, i.e., snapped trees and loss of leaf cover upon entering the island (Fig. 18). The interior of the island was covered by water. When we entered this area, we flushed 10-12 Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nyticorax) from dense mangroves, but we did not find any active nests, such as those found on other islands.

Figure 17. Moderate damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on Lower Bird Island, Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 23 September 2004. Loss of leaf cover occurred on about 50% of coverage. [larger image]

Figure 18. Moderate damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on Lower Bird Island: island edge (left - moderate), island edge (middle - mild), and island interior (right), Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 23 September 2004. [click on the images above to view larger versions]

Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge

Bird Key. This active waterbird area in Pine Island Sound sustained catastrophic damage to vegetation and nesting habitat (Fig. 19). Most of the canopy trees snapped or tipped in the storm. Little to no leaf cover remained on shrubs and trees. Waterbirds were using the Key for resting just prior to our survey.

Figure 19. Catastrophic damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on Bird Key: island edge (left, large snapped black mangrove is sprouting) and island interior (right), Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 24 September 2004. [click on the images above to view larger versions]

Hemp Island. We found catastrophic damage to vegetation and nesting habitat on this island, similar to the damage found on Bird Key (Figs. 20 and 21). On 24 September 2004, we saw large numbers (100's) of waterbirds resting on island, which is located 6.1 km west of North Captiva Island and 2.4 km from Pine Island in Pine Island Sound. While measuring damage to vegetation, we also recorded 11 Wood Storks leaving the island (Fig. 22).

Figure 20. Catastrophic damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on Hemp Island, Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 24 September 2004. Large numbers of resting waterbirds had been using the island based on white wash and fecal matter on the ground. [larger image]

Figure 21. Catastrophic damage from Hurricane Charley, 13 August 2004, on Hemp Island: island edge (left), rim (middle) and interior (right), Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, photographed 24 September 2004. [click on images above to view larger versions]

Figure 22. Wood Storks (3 of 11) leaving Hemp Island, Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, Florida, 24 September 2004. [larger image]