Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy

Last updated
Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy
FormationMay 24, 1960;63 years ago (1960-05-24)
FounderHenry Beadel
Type Nonprofit
59-0952956
Legal status 501(c)(3)
PurposeFoster exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation and education
Headquarters13093 Henry Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, Florida
Coordinates 30°39′23″N84°16′51″W / 30.6565°N 84.28075°W / 30.6565; -84.28075
Region
Southeastern United States Primarily
Key people
William E. Palmer (President/CEO)
Main organ
Board of Directors
Revenue
$13.66 million (2020)
Expenses$11.91 million (2020)
Staff
114
Website https://talltimbers.org

Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy is a research and learning facility located in northern Leon County, Florida, just off County Road 12 on the north side of Lake Iamonia. Tall Timbers researches the areas of fire ecology, resource management, forestry, game bird management, and vertebrate ecology.

Contents

Origins

Edward Beadel was a wealthy Architect from New York City who went south each winter. He was also an avid hunter who lodged at the Piney Woods Hotel in Thomasville, Georgia. The hotel was constructed circa 1885 but burned to the ground in 1906. [1] "Beadel would often cross the Florida border to hunt on the property of Charlie Davis. Beadel was so impressed with Leon County that in 1895 he purchased 2,200-acres (890 ha) of land along the north shore of Lake Iamonia for $8000 (~$231,531 in 2021). At that time he also designed and built a $3000 vernacular colonial revival home where a plantation house had once stood. [2] He renamed the property Tall Timbers Plantation. The home had its own water tower, boat house, and other outbuildings. [3]

Edward Beadel died in 1919 and the property passed to his nephew, Henry Ludlow Beadel. Henry was a philanthropist and naturalist who had been hunting in Leon County since 1894. An additional 600-acres was added to the plantation. [4] Two years later, a single story, five-bay wing was constructed east of the main house, connected by an 86-foot porch. [2] Additional bedroom space was created by adding three dormers to the front of the main house. Henry lived in the east wing from 1921 until his death in 1963 and the interior remains unchanged. [2] Field hunting was accomplished via horse-drawn carriage. For duck hunting, Henry used a handmade tin boat of between 8 and 9 feet in length. Tall Timbers also had a number of canoes. [5] By this time, the house had a huge stone fireplace and rustic furniture fit for a lodge. The exterior had a sweeping porch facing the lake. [3]

Beadel was one of several plantation owners who sponsored a 1924 scientific inquiry into local quail population declines. This was the first study that grew into the research station. [6] Henry Beadel's will left the plantation for use as a nature preserve for wildlife research. [7] The Tall Timbers Inc was established in 1958 [8] and incorporated May 24, 1960. [9] The interior of the main house was modified for use as offices of the Research Station. [2]

In 2014 the Conservancy announced the donation of the 9,100-acre Dixie Plantation from the Geraldine C. M. Livingston Foundation. [10] The Oak Hill Plantation placed a conservation easement on almost one thousand acres through the conservancy. [8]

As of 2018, the organization held in excess of 125,000 acres of conservation easements in Georgia and Florida, the area's biggest private land trust. [11] That total rose to 158,000 acres in 2020. [12]

Fire Ecology Program

The Fire Ecology Program is designed to provide the public with applicable, science-based information on prescribed fire and vegetation dynamics in the southern pine ecosystem, specifically in the Red Hills Region.

National training

The National Advanced Fire & Resource Institute created the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC) in 1998 and Tall Timbers was involved with the program from its beginning. [13] According to their website, the purpose of the PFTC is to "Provide maximum opportunities for federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies and other organizations to build skills and knowledge of prescribed fire, with an emphasis on field experience". [14] The courses have drawn attendees from 18 countries and every state except Rhode Island. Hands-on training for fire professionals lasts 20 days, and administrative workshops are completed in 6 days. [13] The PFTC National offices and equipment relocated to the Tall Timbers Research Station in the spring of 2021. [13]

Resource Management Program

The Resource Management Program's responsibility is to manage the land so that the upland forests are maintained in an open, park-like condition using prescribed fire, mechanical tools, and chemical techniques to accomplish land management goals.

The Forestry Program is designed to meet the ecological forestry research needs of the Red Hills Region between Tallahassee, Florida and Thomasville, Georgia.

Game Bird Program

Diagram of Tall Timbers layout. Tall Timbers Diagram.png
Diagram of Tall Timbers layout.

The Game Bird Program is studying the northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and its habitats.

Bird Dog Competition

The Continental Field Trial is a regional competition of pointing dogs that had been traditionally held at the Dixie Plantation since 1937. The availability of quail in the wild provides a true test for 146 "derby" and "open" dogs and their owners who travel from across the United States. [10]

Vertebrate Ecology Lab

The Vertebrate Ecology Lab was renamed as the Stoddard Lab of Ornithology in 2018 to commemorate the many contributions that Herbert Stoddard made to wildlife conservation and research. Current research projects range from assessing the effects that prescribed fires have on black rails, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and Bachman's sparrows to factors promoting cooperative breeding in the brown-headed nuthatch. The Stoddard Bird Lab also works to expand the regional population of red-cockaded woodpeckers using translocation and the construction of artificial cavities. Red-cockaded woodpeckers were extirpated from Tall Timbers in the 1970s, but a reintroduction effort initiated in 2008 using translocation and artificial cavities has led to a population of 12-14 breeding groups. Similar efforts on other properties in the Red Hills region have increased the regional woodpecker population by 30% (from 170 to 220 breeding groups). The lab also conducts translocation and fire management research with the frosted elfin, a rare butterfly.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longleaf pine</span> Species of plant (tree)

The longleaf pine is a pine species native to the Southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from East Texas to southern Virginia, extending into northern and central Florida. In this area it is also known as "yellow pine" or "long leaf yellow pine", although it is properly just one out of a number of species termed yellow pine. It reaches a height of 30–35 m (98–115 ft) and a diameter of 0.7 m (28 in). In the past, before extensive logging, they reportedly grew to 47 m (154 ft) with a diameter of 1.2 m (47 in). The tree is a cultural symbol of the Southern United States, being the official state tree of Alabama. Contrary to popular belief, this particular species of pine is not officially the state tree of North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apalachicola National Forest</span> A national forest located Florida

The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state of Florida. It encompasses 632,890 acres and is the only national forest located in the Florida Panhandle. The National Forest provides water and land-based outdoors activities such as off-road biking, hiking, swimming, boating, hunting, fishing, horse-back riding, and off-road ATV usage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradfordville, Florida</span>

Bradfordville is an unincorporated community in northern Leon County, Florida, United States. It is 8 miles (13 km) north of Tallahassee and south of the Florida/Georgia state line by 8 miles (13 km) at the intersection of US 319 and County Road 0342. Its elevation is 223 feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Iamonia</span> Lake in the state of Florida, United States

Lake Iamonia⟨aɪ ˈmoʊ njə⟩ is a large, subtropical prairie lake in northern Leon County, Florida, United States, created during the Pleistocene epoch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Hills Region</span> Region of the southeastern United States

The Red Hills or Tallahassee Hills is a region of gently rolling hills in the southeastern United States. It is a geomorphic region and an ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodlawn (Leon County)</span>

Woodlawn was a large plantation of 2,503 acres (1,013 ha) located in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Dr. Griffin Holland in 1834. Holland was married in 1839 to Margaret Whitaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water Oak Plantation</span>

Water Oak Plantation was a small cotton plantation of 1,840 acres (740 ha) located in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Richard Bradford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny Hill Plantation</span> Hunting plantation in Florida, USA

Sunny Hill Plantation was a large hunting plantation in northern Leon County, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ring Oak Plantation</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinhega Lodge</span>

Kinhega Lodge was a hunting and fishing plantation located in northern Leon County, Florida, United States on Lake Iamonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foshalee Plantation</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tall Timbers Plantation (Florida)</span> United States historic place

Tall Timbers Plantation was a quail hunting plantation located in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Edward Beadel in 1895.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mistletoe Plantation</span>

Mistletoe Plantation was a quail hunting plantation located in extreme northwest Leon County, Florida and southeast Grady County, Georgia established by Mrs. Jean Hanna Gallien.

Alexander State Forest is located in Rapides Parish, Louisiana near the town of Woodworth. It was established in 1923 as a state demonstration forest. It contains the Indian Creek Recreation Area and the Alexander State Forest Headquarters Building, constructed in 1935, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tall Timbers may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Hill Plantation</span> Conservation preserve in North Florida

Oak Hill Plantation is a privately-owned conservation preserve created in the late 20th century by T. K. Wetherell with his wife, Virginia Bass Wetherell. The large personal residence is maintained by the present owner, Virginia Wetherell-Scott.

John H. H. Phipps was an American heir, businessman, plantation owner, conservationist and polo player. He owned radio and television stations in Florida and Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Woods Wildlife Management Area</span> Protected area of Virginia, United States

Big Woods Wildlife Management Area is a 4,173-acre (16.89 km2) Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Sussex County, Virginia. It comprises two tracts of land; the 2,208-acre (8.94 km2) main tract, located immediately adjacent Big Woods State Forest, and the 1,965-acre (7.95 km2) Parker's Branch tract, located nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert L. Stoddard</span>

Herbert L. Stoddard was an American naturalist, conservationist, forester, wildlife biologist, ecologist, ornithologist, taxidermist, and author. In the 20th century he earned a reputation for being one of the American Southeast's most prominent conservationists and a pioneering forest ecologist. He is most well known for his seminal book, The Bobwhite Quail: Its habits, preservation, and increase (1931). He is also widely credited with advocating for the practice of prescribed fire as a tool for wildlife management. He was married to Ada Wechselberg, with whom he had one son, Herbert "Sonny" L. Stoddard Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Wilderness Preserve</span> Wilderness preserve in Florida

The Disney Wilderness Preserve is a 11,500-acre nature reserve near Kissimmee, Florida. It was created through an agreement between The Walt Disney Company, The Nature Conservancy, and the state of Florida. It is located fifteen miles south of Walt Disney World.

References

  1. University of Phoenix Archives
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Beadel House". Tall Timbers. Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Tall Timbers Plantation (Florida)". Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  4. Paisley, Clifton, From Cotton To Quail: An Agricultural Chronicle of Leon County, Florida, 1860-1967, University of Florida Press, 1968. p. 78. ISBN   978-0-8130-0718-2
  5. Florida Memory Collection Archived 2008-09-18 at the Wayback Machine - Illustrations within photos of canoes
  6. "The Quail Trail" (PDF). TALLAHASSEE TRUST for historic preservation. Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  7. "Tall Timbers Research Station" . Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  8. 1 2 Keates, Nancy. "Fragile Hunting Grounds in the Southeast's 'Quail Belt'". WSJ.com. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  9. "Detail by Entity Name". Sunbiz dot Org. Florida Division of Corporations. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Tall Timbers acquires Dixie Plantation – expands its research and conservation efforts in the region". eNews. Tall Timbers. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  11. Mayhew, Augustus (27 April 2018). "Higher Ground: Tall Timbers revives Livingstons' Florida plantation". New York Social Diary. Palm Beach Social Diary. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  12. "Tall Timbers 2020 Annual Report" (PDF). January 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 "National Prescribed Fire Training Center moves to Tall Timbers". Tall Timbers. Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  14. "Excellence in Prescribed Fire". Prescribed Fire Training Center. National Advanced Fire & Resource Institute. Retrieved 6 February 2022.