Bewildered sandhill cranes are wandering a neighborhood following the destruction of their nests in a damaging mowing incident in The Villages.
Jim Rich of the Village of De La Vista scolded the Community Development District 1 Board of Supervisors on Friday at Savannah Center over the loss of precious wildlife habitat behind his home on Carrera Drive. The area, known as “Grass Pond,” is part of the larger Mark Gary Morse Preserve on the Tierra del Sol Championship Golf Course.
Rich and his neighbors were horrified in May when the wetland, drained by a recent drought, was mowed to the bone.
The next day, resident Dan Mahoney drove his golf cart over the wooden bridge that spans Grass Pond. Typically, he would spot up to 20 sandhill cranes in the area. They were all gone.
Now, residents say the displaced sandhill cranes are desperately trying to find some refuge in their neighborhood. One crane couple, accompanied by two new colts, showed up at Rich’s home.
“One of the babies has already died,” Rich said.
CDD 1 Board Chairman Rocky Hyder tried to explain to the frustrated residents what happened.
“A contractor exceeded what they were contracted to do,” Hyder said.
The District immediately consulted its environmental specialist upon learning of the destroyed nesting sites.
“What is done is already done. We are not happy about it either. At this point, we have done all we can to remediate it,” Hyder said.
Rich and his neighbors remain frustrated that the mowing crew appears to have gotten away with a slap on the wrist for destroying the habitat.
“I am sure that if I went out there and cut it down, I would be in trouble,” Rich said.