OFF THE ‘BEAK‘EN PATH

After working in television production at Walt Disney World, Bruce and Cathy Brown escaped the hustle and bustle of theme park life and immersed themselves in the serenity and peacefulness of the Clermont countryside.

It was 20 years ago this month when they opened BB Brown’s Gardens. Within the first year, they discovered something far more ‘magical’ than a manmade theme park could offer. As they explored their 15-acre property, a grayand-blue bird about the size of a mockingbird landed on Cathy’s hand. For her, it was love at first sight.

“That moment instantly took me back to my childhood in Maine,” she says. “When I was an 8-year old girl I would go outside and feed bread to a Canadian jay. It always landed on my hand. So the first time I encountered this beautiful bird in Florida it rekindled fond childhood memories.”

The bird she encountered was a Florida scrub-jay, the only species of bird native to Florida that was federally listed as threatened in 1987. The Browns decided to take this beautiful bird under their wings. They made a trail on their property by clearing out invasive plants and replacing them with scrub oaks, the natural habitat for this species.

The trail, affectionately named the Florida ScrubJay Trail, officially opened in 2003. Since then, avid birders from as far away as

Japan, Britain, China, and Italy have visited the site so they can add the Florida scrub-jay to the lists of birds they’ve seen. In addition, the Browns have invited Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and local schoolchildren to their property to teach them about bird conservation efforts.

“Our main goal is to get both children and adults out here so we can educate them about the Florida scrub-jay and train them how to maintain the right habitat at their property so the bird can thrive,” Bruce says. “It’s definitely a bird worth saving. As the population of Florida increases, the bird continues losing its scrub habitat. The latest population numbers are between 5,500 and 6,500.”

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. In October, Cathy was presented the Cox Conservation Heroes award at the studios of WFTV Channel 9 in Orlando. The award recognizes volunteers who create, preserve, and enhance shared outdoor spaces.

“The award would not be possible without the help we’ve received from the National Wildlife Federation and our wonderful volunteers,” Cathy says. “It’s like heaven where we live because we have 360 degrees of nature. To have a lake, a dock, and nearly 120 species of birds is the most rewarding lifestyle I can think of.”