Clearwater Harbor-St. Joseph Sound

Status: Recognized State: Florida 

Priority: State Country: US 

Criteria Proposed: 

Criteria Confirmed: D1, D4iv 

County: 

Pinellas 

Latitude: 28.019 

Longitude: -82.779 

Area (ha): 4.0 Elevation (m):

Min 0.0 Max 0.0 Avg 0.0 

Bird Conservation Region 

Peninsular Florida 

Endemic Bird Area

Site Description

Belleair Beach, <1.2 ha; Indian Rocks Beach, 0.2 ha; Island I-25, 1.6 ha; Marker 6 Island, 0.04 ha; Marker 10 

Island, 0.04 ha; Marker 26 Island, <0.8 ha; North Clearwater Beach, 0.4 ha; 

In west-central Pinellas County, between the mainland and barrier island, and between state roads 586 and 688. 

The islands range from Ozona to Indian Rocks Beach. Listed geographically from north to south, the sites are: 

Marker 26, North Clearwater Beach, Island I-25, Marker 10, Marker 6, Belleair Beach, and Indian Rocks Beach. All 

the islands lie within the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve. Near the Gulf Islands GEOpark IBA to the north. 

Several islands (most formed from dredging operations) between the barrier islands and mainland, as well as one 

site (North Clearwater Beach) on the barrier island. Many of the islands are named after nearby channel markers 

in the Intracoastal Waterway. Marker 26 Island is north of State Road 586 between Honeymoon Island and Ozona.

Island I-25 is just south of State Road 60. Marker 10 and Marker 6 islands are between Island I-25 and State Road

686. Indian Rocks Beach consists on two islands between state roads 686 and 688. North Clearwater Beach is part

of a sand spit that links Caladesi Island with Clearwater Beach. 

Ornithological Significance

Sites within this IBA support significant Brown Pelican, wading bird, and larid colonies, and also support breeding 

population of shorebirds. Marker 26 Island currently is the northernmost nesting site of Reddish Egrets on the Gulf 

coast of Florida.

Criteria

significant populations of Threatened, Special Concern, and FCREPA species; significant populations of larids 

Species Data and Criteria

Common 

Name Date 

Seasonal/ 

Daily Season 

# 

Observed 

Density 

(#/km2) Units 

Proposed 

Criteria 

Confirmed 

Criteria 

American 

Oystercatcher 

Snowy 

Plover 

2001 breeding 1 Breeding 

pairs 

 

1989 breeding 4 Breeding 

pairs 

 

Black 

Skimmer 

2001 breeding 275 Breeding 

pairs 

 

2000 breeding 275 Breeding 

pairs 

 

1999 breeding 65 Breeding 

pairs 

 

Least Tern 2001 breeding 65 Breeding 

Site Report: Clearwater Harbor-St. Joseph Sound Page 1 of 3

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pairs 

2000 breeding 30 Breeding 

pairs 

 

Reddish 

Egret 

2001 breeding 6 Breeding 

pairs 

 

2001 breeding 5 Breeding 

pairs 

 

2000 breeding 8 Breeding 

pairs 

 

2000 breeding 3 Breeding 

pairs 

 

1999 breeding 4 Breeding 

pairs 

 

1999 breeding 4 Breeding 

pairs 

 

Snowy Egret 

Great Egret 

White Ibis 

Roseate 

Spoonbill 

2001 breeding 8 Breeding 

pairs 

 

2000 breeding 4 Breeding 

pairs 

 

1999 breeding 1 Breeding 

pairs 

 

Brown 

Pelican 

2001 breeding 99 Breeding 

pairs 

 

2001 breeding 94 Breeding 

pairs 

 

2000 breeding 246 Breeding 

pairs 

 

1999 breeding 120 Breeding 

pairs 

 

1999 breeding 92 Breeding 

pairs 

 

Ownership

State of Florida (marker islands), City of Clearwater (Island I-25), unknown: (Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, 

North Clearwater Beach)

% of IBA Ownership 

– State 

– Township/Municipality 

– unset 

Habitat

*mangrove forest, spoil uplands. Indian Rocks Beach: *mangrove forest. Island I-25: *mangrove forest, tidal 

marsh, coastal strand. Marker 6 Island: *coastal strand. Marker 10 Island: *coastal strand. Marker 26 Island: 

*spoil uplands, mangrove forest. North Clearwater Beach: *coastal strand.

% of IBA Habitat 

– Barren / Bare Rock/Sand/Clay / Coastal Strand 

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– Forested Upland / Deciduous forest / Tidal Marshes 

– Wetlands / Woody Wetlands / Mangrove Forest 

Land Use

Belleair Beach: *conservation. Indian Rocks Beach: *conservation. Island I-25: *conservation. Marker 6 Island: 

*conservation, recreation. Marker 10 Island: *conservation, recreation. Marker 26 Island: *conservation. North 

Clearwater Beach: *conservation, *recreation. 

% of IBA Land Use 

– nature conservation and research 

– tourism/recreation 

Conservation Issues

All sites are posted against human intrusion during the nesting season by either Audubon of Florida, the City of 

Belleair Beach, or the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. • Exotic plants, primarily Brazilian pepper, have invaded some 

of the islands. Control is difficult because many of the birds are nesting in the pepper stands. • The addition of 

“construction grade” dredged material is being considered to stabilize Markers 6 and 10 islands, and riprap of 

other material is needed to secure the shoreline of Marker 26 Island.

Level Threat 

0 Disturbance to birds 

0 Invasive species / Non-native plants 

0 Natural events / Erosion 

0 Recreation/tourism / Monofilament fishing line 

Citation: National Audubon Society 2011. Important Bird Areas in the U.S. 

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