The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System, located offshore from mainland St. Petersburg, Florida , and only accessible by boat. The 394-acre (1.59 km) refuge was established in 1951, to act as a breeding ground for colonial bird species. Islands within the refuge include Indian, Tarpon, Mule, and Jackass Keys, and all are within the St. Petersburg city limits.
5-804: The Pinellas NWR is one of the three 'Tampa Bay Refuges', along with Passage Key NWR and Egmont Key NWR . Previously administered as a part of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the three Tampa Bay refuges, the Chassahowitzka NWR , and the Crystal River NWR have been administered by the Crystal River Complex , headquartered in Crystal River, Florida since 2012. Brown pelicans , herons , egrets , cormorants and many other species nest on
10-487: Is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System, located offshore from St. Petersburg . The 64-acre (0.26 km ) refuge was established in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt to preserve nesting colonies of native seabirds and wading birds. The Passage Key Wilderness Area is part of the refuge, and consists of 36.37 acres (0.1472 km ) (or 56.9%) of its total area. It
15-519: The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge . Passage Key has suffered substantial shoaling in recent years and is currently reduced to a small sandbar approximately 100 yards (91 m) long at high tide. It began in 1921 with a hurricane that destroyed a freshwater lake and most of the vegetation. The island, first known as Isla de San Francisco y Leon , then Burnaby Island , and later as Cayo del Pasaje or Passage Key ,
20-529: The islands. Tarpon Key has the largest brown pelican rookery in the state. The NWR is closed to public use, for the protection of natural and cultural resources. This Florida protected area related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a location in Pinellas County , Florida is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Passage Key NWR The Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge
25-661: Was established in 1970, to protect native birds and serve as a breeding ground for them. Passage Key NWR is one of the three 'Tampa Bay Refuges', and was administered as a part of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex but was changed to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The complex manages the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge , Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge , Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge , Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge , and
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