Environmentalists in Florida say they are heartbroken that a wealthy investor who once planned to save a historic private island as a seabird sanctuary now wants to sell it for development into “Miami’s most exclusive address.”
One of only two natural islands in the Upper Biscayne Bay, Bird Key was named by British surveyors in 1770 during the reign of George III for its abundant wildlife, and has since served as a pristine breeding reserve for dozens of species of native birds. including egrets, cormorants, herons and pelicans.
Now its owner, Finlay Matheson, who bought the four-acre island with a partner for $36,000 in the mid-1980s, has put it up for sale for $31.5 million as “a golden opportunity for a developer.”
Matheson said he felt it was “high time” to sell Bird Key, and that he was “not concerned at all” about what would happen to it, according to the Miami New Times, which first reported the listing.
“A very lucky individual can create Miami’s most exclusive address because this gem is residential,” according to the island’s listing, along with Miami real estate agent Audrey Ross.
In 2012, Matheson told the Miami Herald that he had hoped the island “would be taken over by a government agency or a private group that would restore it and declare it a protected bird sanctuary.”
Matheson did not respond to a request for comment.
Chris Boykin, chief development officer for Miami Waterkeeper and former executive director of the nearby Pelican Harbor seabird station, said losing Bird Key to the development would be a tragedy.
“Right now it’s a natural island, as it has been for centuries, and if we saw it being turned into condos, it would just be a blight on our community, a blight on South Florida, and just too painful to bear,” he said.
“One of the few naturally occurring islands in Biscayne Bay, it is covered in protected mangroves and is valuable for fish and many other species of marine life, as well as birds. The biodiversity and wealth of life make Bird Key a very special and magical place.”
The offer acknowledges that any purchaser “might acquire and use [the island] for environmental mitigation, or you could acquire it to donate to the public as an environmental treasure.” However, Boykin wonders if that’s feasible.
“Obviously it would be great if the island were purchased by someone who wanted to preserve it, whether that be the federal, state or provincial government. But at an asking price of $31.5 million, I just don’t know,” he said.
As New Times reported, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava made efforts last year to purchase the island for the county, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, but failed.
“My administration closely monitored the process at Bird Key and made a purchase offer that unfortunately did not meet the owner’s expectations,” she said in a statement.
“Biscayne Bay is home to some of Florida’s most iconic species, including birds, marine life and storm-reducing mangroves, so an opportunity to restore our bay and protect its wildlife through land acquisition is something my administration will always to consider.”
Ross, the real estate agent, said in an email that “there was a lot of interest and a little bit of misunderstanding.” She said relatives of Matheson told her they “never received a formal written offer from the local government” but would welcome one sent through her office.
Levine Cava has been active on wildlife issues since her election in 2020, leading the county’s fight to close Miami’s Seaquarium theme park amid allegations of animal deaths, abuse and safety issues.
She said Miami-Dade was still interested in acquiring Bird Key.
“We would like to find alternatives, including state or federal support, to purchase this property and expand the footprint of our Biscayne Bay conservation programs,” she said.
The Nature Conservancy said its bid for the island in partnership with the province is still valid and open to negotiation.
“We are hopeful that we can find a solution that is acceptable to both parties. We know the property owner and the county have an interest in protecting the area,” said Roberto Torres, Miami-Dade project manager for the wildlife refuge.
Even if the county can’t complete the purchase, it could still have a significant say in Bird Key’s future. Biscayne Bay is an aquatic reserve with special environmental protections, and any development plans would have to pass scrutiny and meet strict standards to gain approval.
Boykin said he shed tears over the plight of Bird Key, which has led to a decline in seabird numbers in recent years, largely due to pollution, reduced food supplies for prey species and human disturbance, such as an increase in use of noisy watercraft.
“I and many others still mourn the loss of the bird colony. There is hope that the birds will come back, but there is no certainty,” he said.
“Selling it now for development is simply not the best outcome for wildlife and our natural world of conservation in South Florida.”
