Precious Black Necked Stilt
One of my favorite little waders is the Black Necked Stilt. We see them in our South Florida wetlands on the east coast during the breeding season in late spring and early summer. They have the longest red legs on any bird in relation to their the body size, second only to the flamingo. These dainty-looking birds like to build their nests in a clump of soil and vegetation right in the wetlands water which makes we admiring fans quite nervous because of alligators. But alligators, beware, because these lightweight parents carry heavyweight courage and vigor in protecting their clutch. I’ve seen them fly out to harass a gator moving too close to another bird’s nest. These pretty and tall parents alternate turns at rolling the eggs to assure each egg has full exposure to their body heat. Once the chicks are hatched, both parents feed and teach the chicks up through the time they fledge the nest. They are seen hanging out at their empty nests for a while just to make certain the fledglings are succeeding on their own. The Black Necked Stilts are quite territorial and in non-breeding times seem to enjoy associating with other stilts....
Read MoreSpear Fishing, Anyone?
The Snowy Egret is a medium size wading bird, a bit smaller than the Great Egret. Their smaller size enables them to fly more rapidly than the Great Egret and can maneuver more skillfully. They’re similar in appearance, but the Snowies have long, flowing plumes on the head, neck and back during breeding season. They are quite graceful in flight and in their walk. Snowy egrets live and feed in marshes, low coastlines, and tidal flats. They are skilled in foraging for the big catch sometimes flying over the water watching below or skillfully walking in the water in pursuit of the feast. Unlike other wading birds like the Great Egret or herons which wait quietly for their catch, the Snowy Egrets are out actively hunting, moving about in the water stirring it up. Their sharp bills make them accomplished spear fishermen for they rarely go hungry. So, if spear fishing is your sport, buddy up with a Snowy Egret for the...
Read MoreWhite Ibis
I saw my first White Ibis in Florida as we walked along the banks of the Jupiter Inlet. We were posing for photos and then this lovely, lanky bird walks right toward us as if to say “Hey, you should be photographing me. Am I not graceful?” Of course, I turned my camera to the ibis and just love the graceful stroll he took right by us. The White Ibis are wading birds of the deep South, always looking down to see what they can find for dinner or a snack. They have pink skin on their faces, legs and bills. This pink turns almost scarlet in breeding season. The birds appear totally white but the black edges to the underneath part of their wings is only seen when they are in flight. Their favorite habitat is salt marshes, but they can also be seen walking along lawns probing for insects to...
Read MoreWhat's Your Passion?
National Audubon Society
Help support the efforts of our National Audubon Society in conservation of natural bird habitats. Visit: www.birds.audubon.org