Audubon Everglades Presents

“Snail Kite Conservation: A Florida Success Story”

Presented by Tyler Beck, Snail Kite Conservation Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 7PM
Zoom-Hosted Presentation (advance registration required)
6:45-7:00PM Social time with fellow members and presenters

About the Program

Snail Kites have had an uncertain and changing status over the last few decades due to issues impacting their South Florida habitats, including the rise of non-native flora and fauna. Lake Okeechobee has been important for the survival of Snail Kites in some years, critically important in others. Tyler will share the research that assists FWC in the management of Snail Kite habitat in Florida. You will learn about the birds’ habits, the challenges they face, their latest breeding numbers and locations, how they are adapting to Florida’s dynamic and shrinking wetlands and the shifting water levels on managed public lands, and what you can do to help their survival.

About Tyler Beck

Tyler Beck grew up in Lake Placid, Florida, where his parents were educators. He received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Florida Gulf Coast University and completed an internship working with Florida Scrub Jays in the Avian Ecology lab at the Archbold Biological Station. He next worked at Florida Atlantic University, tracking Great Egret and White Ibis movements and habitat selection throughout the Everglades. He stayed on at FAU for his master’s degree, focusing his thesis research on the characteristics of the unique avian communities of the Everglades Stormwater Treatment Areas.  In 2011 he joined the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to work on wetland restoration and bird monitoring at Lake Okeechobee. For the past seven years, Tyler has been the Snail Kite Conservation Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where his main responsibility is the management of Snail Kite habitat.

Join us on April 5 and learn more about the iconic bird of our Audubon Everglades logo!