Helen and Allan Cruickshank
The land for the sanctuary was purchased in 1995 through the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program. The sanctuary is named after two celebrated conservationists, Helen G. and Allan D. Cruickshank.Helen was an award-winning nature writer and photographer. She wrote a number of books, primarily about birds, including multiple publications about Florida species. Her husband Allan was a nationally recognized ornithologist, photographer, and teacher who worked at the National Audubon Society for almost 40 years. The Cruikshanks played a major role in gaining public support for the protection and restoration of native ecosystems in Brevard County.The sanctuary is home to many protected species, including some that are federally endangered. For this reason, pets are not allowed and feeding animals is prohibited. Please take only photographs and leave only footprints.
Bridge
This hand-built bridge was generously donated as an Eagle Scout project. It crosses a small freshwater marsh that attracts many water-loving species, including wading birds, small lizards, and frogs. One of the most frequently seen herons in this area is the Green Heron, a green and maroon-colored bird about the size of a crow. It is one of the few species of birds that uses tools. Green Herons entice small fish to come in close by dropping "lures" onto the surface of the water, such as small feathers and insects.
Yellow Milkwort
Yellow Milkwort (Polygala rugelii) is found wherever the soil is a little wet in the sanctuary. This Florida endemic prefers to grow in wetter pine flatwoods. Look for shaggy, pinecone-shaped flowers growing on stalks between 1-3' (30 - 90cm) tall. They most often bloom in the summer and fall, but a few blooms can be found any time of year.
Shiny Blueberry
Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites) is a common ground shrub native only to Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It is often found in scrub and flatwood plant communities, especially when pines are present. Regular fires help to clear ground space for this plant to flourish. Blueberries are produced in late spring and early summer. Many species enjoy the berries, including the Florida Scrub-jays.
Chalky Bluestem
Chalky Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus) is another native you will find here. This fast-growing grass has attractive bluish-white leaves and can rapidly reach 2-5' (60-150 cm) in height. It is part of the understory in a wide variety of pinelands. Chalky Bluestem gets its name from a coating of chalky residue on its leaves that easily rubs off onto your hands or clothes. This grass grows well in sandy soils (dry or wet). It makes a good base for a wildflower garden and can be used to prevent erosion.
Intersection: Scrub and Pine Flatwoods
You have just walked along an area of Florida Scrub and are about to enter Pine Flatwoods. Keep an eye out for friendly blue and gray birds, as there are multiple families of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) here at the Sanctuary. This is Florida's only endemic bird species (endemic: not found anywhere else on Earth).Florida Scrub-jays look a bit like Blue Jays, but with more gray on their backs, foreheads, and bellies. These birds live in highly social family groups with older siblings staying to help protect the family territory and raise the next young. They only live in open habitats with low-growing oaks, such as Sand Live Oak and Myrtle Oak, where they can cache acorns by burying them in the sand. This habitat type has been heavily developed in Florida, and as a result, Florida Scrub-jays are federally endangered.
Pine Flatwoods
Pine Flatwoods is a habitat dominated by lower-growing shrubs and palmettos, especially Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens). There are Slash Pines (Pinus elliotti) overhead, but they are too far apart to form a canopy. Regular fire intervals keep the shrubs from growing too tall and the pine trees from getting too close together. These are some of the important characteristics of a Pine Flatwoods plant community.Look for a large nest in one of the dead trees. Still-standing dead trees, known as snags, are a favorite nesting spot for ospreys, eagles, hawks, and owls.
Prescribed Fires
Pine Flatwoods and Florida Scrub are both fire-dependent ecosystems, meaning their health is directly tied to how frequently they are allowed to burn. Fire is important for certain plants' growth cycles, as some species will only flower or germinate after a fire. Fires also control the height of certain plants. For example, Florida Scrub-jays will abandon a habitat if the oak trees they forage in grow too tall.Historically, lightning strikes combined with dry conditions were the cause of most wildfires. Uncontrolled fires tend to occur in FL between mid-April and July. The Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program intentionally burns sections of the Sanctuary in a much more controlled way. Most prescribed burns are set between December and March when the wind is more predictable and the days are cooler. Burning in this way protects both the ecosystems and peoples' homes and businesses.
Shrubs of the Flatwoods
There are a large number of shrubs growing in the understory of the Sanctuary. In this area, you will see a lot of Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) and Rusty Lyonia (Lyonia ferruginea). Both commonly grow about 10 feet tall or more. Winged Sumacs are common in disturbed areas, such as after a fire. Individual plants are either male or female, so their flowers may look a little different from each other. They are named for the little green "fins" that grow along the stems in between the leaves. Rusty Lyonia, also known as Rusty Staggerbush, is a common plant in sandy ecosystems. It is named for the rust-colored hairs that occur all over the plant, most visibly on the backs of the newest leaves.
Saw Palmettos
Saw Palmettos (Serenoa repens) are smaller palms, usually no more than 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m) tall. They are named for the prickly saw-like edges of their leaf stems. There are two color variations: most have green or yellowish-green fronds, but about 20% have fronds of bluish-silver, especially on the east coast of Florida. They are the most abundant palm species in the United States. In Florida, Saw Palmettos are a source of shelter and/or food for Sand Skinks, Florida Mice, Fox Squirrels, Cottontail Rabbits, Black Bears, and White-tailed Deer.
Florida Scrub Overlook
This raised platform lets you look out over a section of Florida Scrub. Scrub is such a special habitat that many species living in the Sanctuary are not found anywhere else in the world. The plants you can see are growing atop an ancient sandy dune. Their "soil" is essentially sand; it is nutrient-poor and unable to hold moisture well.Several species of oak trees are adapted to this habitat. They grow like tall shrubs instead of trees and their leaves have a reduced surface area to prevent water loss. One example is Sand Live Oak (Quercus geminata). Its leaves look like tiny upside-down canoes. Florida Scrub-jays like to eat (and store) the acorns of the oaks that live in the Scrub.
Fireline Road
The road you're walking on has more than one purpose. In addition to providing maintenance vehicles access to the Sanctuary, roads like these serve as "fire lines" or "fire breaks" during prescribed burns. The three components needed to sustain a fire are 1) heat, 2) fuel, and 3) oxygen. A fire line removes fuel from the fire by widely separating the areas of vegetation. This helps to keep the fire contained in just the area scheduled to be burned.
More to Explore
This is the end of the guided tour, but there is plenty left to explore in the Sanctuary. The fire line to your left leads into more scrub habitat. Watch and listen for other common birds such as Eastern Towhee, Swallow-tailed Kite, Black Vulture, and Bobwhite. Keep an eye out for Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) too.A hatchling Gopher Tortoise can fit in the palm of a child's hand, while adults are closer in size to a large dinner plate. Their shell is yellow-brown and bumpy when young, becoming browner and smoother over time. Over 350 species use Gopher Tortoise burrows as either temporary shelter or shared living space. For this reason, Gopher Tortoises and their burrows are both protected by law.When you're ready to head out, follow the trail marker directly in front of you back to the parking lot.
