3. ECOLOGICAL NICHEECOLOGICAL NICHE
-how an organism makes a living:-how an organism makes a living:
NestingNesting
FeedingFeeding
RoostingRoosting
MigrationMigration
We will look at the special adaptations thatWe will look at the special adaptations that
allow them to use niches that are differentallow them to use niches that are different
from those of their competitorsfrom those of their competitors
4. WADING BIRDS & SEA BIRDS
Most inhabit coastal waters, marshes and estuaries
where they feed on fishes, frogs insects.
18. ANHINGA
The anhinga spears his prey with his arrow like beak and
sometimes the thrust is so powerful that he has to swim to
shore and rub his prey off his beak on a rock.
38. GULLS & ALLIES
Long-winged birds are strong fliers and excellent
swimmers. Gulls are usually gray and white and have
webbed feet and square tails. Terns are smaller with
narrow wings, forked tails and pointed bills
44. BLACK SKIMMER
Often roost by laying almost flattened, with their entire
body in contact with the sand, people have been
surprised to find they are only resting!
45.
46.
47. HAWKS & FALCONS
Primarily carnivorous, these birds have sharp
talons for grasping prey, and sharply hooked
bills for tearing into flesh. Many soar on wind
currents when hunting.
48. OSPREY
The outer toes can be reversed to allow 2 toes
to grasp each side of the fish.
49. tolerates a wide variety of
habitats, located near a
large body of water that
provides an adequate
food supply
50. Places to visit
Collier County Museum Gardens
Delnor Wiggins – Beginner Birder Tours 597-6196
Corkscrew Swamp & Sanctuary
Rookery Bay
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Barefoot Beach, Bonita Springs
Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge
Gulf, Bays, Estuaries your own backyard!
Suggested Readings
Florida’s Living Beaches – Witherington Blair & Dawn
Common Coastal Birds of Florida & the Carribean - Nellis David
National Geographic Florida Field Guide to Birds - Baughman M.
The Nature of Florida -Kavanagh James
Smithsonian Handbook, Birds of Florida - Alsop III Fred
-Todays program is on SW Florida’s Water Birds.
-It was a Tough decision on which Birds to choose, I decided to go with a mix of Birds. -So in today’s program you will see a brief overview of birds that can easily be seen on beaches, in estuaries and in bays in the SW FL area.
-One of my favorite parts of observing animals in the wild, is to look for their particular adaptations to the world around them
This route is used by birds typically because no mountains or even ridges of hills block this path over its entire extent. Good sources of water, food, and cover exist over its entire length. The Atlantic Flyway encompasses some of the hemisphere's most productive ecosystems, including forests, beaches, and coastal wetlands. From the northern Atlantic Coast and through the Caribbean to South America, Audubon is working to support this avian superhighway's 500-plus bird species and millions of individual birds.
Forty percent of the Atlantic Flyway's bird species are species of conservation need.
We have a resident population, some may occasionally wander
north to the lower Great Lakes after the breeding season
FIELD MARKS: L: 21-24” WINGSPAN : 3 1/2’
-Medium sized Heron, gold/orange legs, smoky black bill, red eyes,
and their feet and legs extend beyond their tail when in flight
FIELD NOTES:
-These birds stalk their prey or wait in ambush at the water's edge, mainly at night.
-courtship is quite a ritual w/calls, displays, bill clattering.
-They share in the nesting activities, and will mate for subsequent seasons
-Clutch: 2-4 Per Year: 1
Nest Location: Australian Pines, Live Oak Trees and mangroves
Locale: Salt marshes, shoreline, mangroves or man disturbed areas
Diet: opportunistic feeders, crustaceans, frogs, small fish,
*** also known to congregate and prey on hatching turtles
resident population, Young may move to different areas to prevent crowding
FIELD MARKS: L: 20” WINGSPAN: 3 -4’
-short yellow orange legs, Black pointed bill, red eyes, Black crown and back
- You may see 2 long white, nuptial plumes extending from back of head
-They rarely extend their neck even in rest (have seen on Conservancy boat ride)
-FIELD NOTES:
-With a range that spans five continents, incl. much of N America,
The Black-Crowned Night Heron is the most widespread heron in the world.
-Adults apparently do not differentiate between their young
and those from other nests, and will raise other chicks that are not their own.
-they are most active at night, feeding in the same areas other
Heron species frequent during the day.
-Clutch: 3-5, colonies will nest in the same area for 30-50 years.
-Diet: Fish, Reptiles or Amphibians &Small Mammals
resident populations, But some migrate from The Carolinas
FIELD MARKS: L: 4 1/2’ WINGSPAN: 6 1/2’
-Legs are cream near body, brownish to the ground, long thick yellow bill
-typical of other herons and egrets the long neck is folded back in a “s” shape and
their legs extend beyond the tail when in flight
-Great Blue is the tallest of the Herons
FIELD NOTES:
-The Great Blue Heron is best known Heron in North America
-They are found in all 50 states
-Their flight is a slow steady wing beat
-Clutch: 2-7 pale blue eggs, about 2.5” long!
-Nest Location: Nest are usually about 20-60” above ground made of sticks
occasionally migrate as far north as the Greater Banks
FIELD MARKS: similar in size to the Great Blue Heron
-has a heavy yellow bill and black legs and feet.
-The similar Snowy Egret is about 12” shorter
and has a black bill and legs but yellow feet.
FIELD NOTES:
-Usually feeds by stalking prey in shallow waters and are common along roadsides.
-Hunted to near extinction in the 1800’s
-Nest Location: again similar to Great Blue, but the Great Whites colonies
may have 100’s of birds
Locale: common in both fresh & salt water.
**have seen in the Ichetuknee Springs and on Airport Road by Grey Oaks
Res. Population but some migration down the Atlantic flyway
FIELD MARKS: L: 2’WINGSPAN: 3 1/2’
-Slender black bill & legs, Yellow eye lores and feet
FIELD NOTES:
-Egrets in general are active feeders, they may be seen running in shallows,
chasing after prey.
-They also forage by stirring up bottom water with feet to flush out prey.
-Snowy Egrets are referred to as a “dainty Dancer” wearing Golden Slippers.
-During breeding season the Snowy Egret puts on quite a show:
They fluff all their plumage, and bray guttarly, pointing their bill straight up to show off their cere which turns from yellow to vermillon.
-decimated by plume hunters in 1800’s, but recovered dramatically
- Prefers wetlands & sheltered bays
Some Migration to Carolinas in summer
FIELD MARKS: L: 30”WINGSPAN: 3 1/2’
-long, black legs, flesh colored beak w/ a black tip
-breeding adults have a shaggy plume and appear to be wearing blue eyeliner
FIELD NOTES:
-Reddish Egrets are Dimporphic
which means existing or occurring in two distinct forms (90% reddish)
-There feeding movements have been described as “light and graceful” and sometimes compared to a dance or similar to a person with one too many cocktails
-Clutch: 3-4 Share in incubation
-Nest Location: small islands or coastal mangroves (Rookery Bay)
Locale: almost entirely a coastal species
Diet: small school fish
Reddish Egret
FIELD MARKS: L: 4’WINGSPAN: 7’
-Stout bird with long pouched beak, light colored head and brownish body
FIELD NOTES:
-The Brown Pelican dive bombs for its food, and can hold up to 3 gallons of water and fish in its pouch.
-The Brown Pelican incubates its eggs in an unusual manner; it covers them with its webbed feet. This practice was detrimental to the species when the pesticide DDT was in common use. As you probably know this caused thinning of the shells, resulting in so many broken eggs that the species even disappeared (or were extirpated) for awhile in Louisiana, the Pelican STATE!! AS you can see today they have made a significant recovery
-Flocks soar in a long, staggered lines, alternately flapping and gliding in unison.
-The Brown Pelican is the smallest of the worlds Pelicans
-found along coast
breed in N Prairie states (Dakotas) winter in Florida
FIELD MARKS: L: 5’WINGSPAN: 9’
-They are a Large heavy (weighing up to 30 pds.) white Pelican
with black tipped feathers
-With a massive bill and huge throat pocket the American White Pelican
does not dive for its food like the Brown Pelican but instead it feeds while swimming, for obvious reasons
-American White Pelicans are one of the largest of the boreal birds,
FIELD NOTES:
-Due to their large size they require a lengthy running start.
-Nest on the ground they builds up a substantial mound that elevates the eggs
-Flocks travel in a “V” formation, can be seen particularly on Sanibel Island at the “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
FIELD MARKS: L: 28”WINGSPAN: 4’
-legs and feet are pink short and webbed, they rarely walk when they do they have a clumsy waddle, 3” spear shaped bill, Adult males have lovely white feathers on their dark wings, the female has much lighter colored feathers on the neck and chest than the males.
-hatchlings are staggered in age/ brood reduction is a common event
-Prefer estuaries but will forage in salt water, catfish, mullet, crayfish, snakes, turtles, alligators.
FIELD NOTES:
-a water living bird that lacks an oil gland for waterproofing its feathers
-This is not all bad as it helps the bird dive well and chase under water prey
-Often perches with wings spread to dry them, can fly wet, simply not as well or as fast.
-Often swims with just head and neck above surface which reminds people of a snake,
hence the nick-named “Snakebird”
-Flight is strong and rapid but can also soar for extended periods.
**differs from Commorant which flies w/continuous beats and rarely glides
-Clutch: 3-5, laid in colonies
FIELD MARKS: L: 2 1/2’WINGSPAN: 4 1/2’
-black duck like legs & feet, hooked bill to catch prey
-mostly dark w/orange throat pouch
FIELD NOTES:
-swims w/body above water UNLIKE Anhinga
-In the far east the Cormorant’s fishing ability is harnessed by man.
Rings around neck & on a leash.
-Clutch: 3-4, 1-2 day intervals,brood reduction common
-Nest Location: wide variety of locations, the nest is built by both the male and female and takes about 4 days to build
FIELD MARKS: L: 35”WINGSPAN: 71/2’!!
-legs are very short with tiny feet, long hooked bill
-Magnificent Frigates are un-surpassed at both soaring and overall aerial ability, with its huge size, long, pointed wings and deeply forked tail the frigate bird is instantly
recognizable even at long distances. It is most often seen soaring over coastal areas,
look for open ”W” they can soar for several hours w/o flapping
FIELD NOTES:
-Magnificent Frigate bird has a silent in flight, which aids them in their bully behavior,
they attack other seabirds to force them to disgorge their meal
-Clutch: 1, There is a egg laid every other year, due to the high maintenance of chick
-Length of incubation: 50 days Days to fledge: 170 days
may still feed chicks for another 6 months!
-1st breeding 5-7 years!! Must learn to capture enough food to survive & feed young
-Nest Location: very limited areas Long Key & Dry Tortugas
Man O War
FIELD MARKS: L: 22-27”WINGSPAN: 3 1/2’
-long pink legs, 6” orange decurved bill pure white plumage except for black wing tips
-Bill and legs brilliant red during courtship,
FIELD NOTES:
-travel in a “V” formation or in diagonal skeins
-were hunted extensively by the Indians and early settlers
-Presently in S. America and parts of Louisiana eggs and young adults are prized for their culinary properties, perhaps due to their diet of crustaceans.
-Clutch: 2-3
-It takes 7 days to construct the nest, usually on predator free islands in densely packed colonies (seen in Rookery bay)
FIELD MARKS: L: 19” WINGSPAN: 3’
-Legs long dark gray, 6” decurved smoky gray bill
-long-necked wader, Dark brown eye, Holds neck extended in flight
FIELD NOTES:
-This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas.
-they have been know to live over 21 years
-Clutch: 2-6 dark blue per Year: 1
-Length of incubation: 21days, Days to fledge: 28+ days
-Nest Location: Re-nesting is common if destroyed by weather
-Wetland-open water
Glossy
One of the shorebird with the longest migration! From the Arctic to southern South America every year for an annual round trip of 20,000 miles.
FIELD MARKS: L: 8”WINGSPAN: 15”
-black legs and bill , light gray above, white below
FIELD NOTES:
-they appear to be in constant motion always running from crashing waves,
Sanderlings do swim well if the need arises
-you will see them flying in small flocks along shore close to waves
-usually seen in groups weather feeding or nesting
-Clutch: 1 day intervals until 4 then incubation starts
-Nest Location: leaf lined scrape, may have 2 separate nests (same female) in which case the male will incubate one, usually they incubate 1 nest together
-Will feign injury to protect their brood
Sanderling
MIGRATION: winters in FL, nests in the Arctic or sub-arctic regions
FIELD MARKS: L: 14WINGSPAN: 26-29”
-They tend to look very distinguished in their black and white plumage.
-It is easily recognized by its red-orange legs, which at 8-10” long, are some of the longest proportionally to any bird
-Tall and elegant, the Black Necked Stilt feeds quietly in small flocks. If disturbed they turn into a chaotic mob, splashing water and whistling wildly on take-off
and sometimes attacking intruders.
FIELD NOTES:
-These Stilts are monogamous & beginning at about 3 yrs old tend clutches of 4 eggs each year in nests of sticks, grasses, rocks and fish bones.
-You will find the Stilts onlong Shorelines of fresh & saltwater (Myakka River S.P.)
Black Necked Stilt
FIELD MARKS: L: 9”WINGSPAN: 17.5”
-short sturdy orange legs & feet, slightly upturned bill
-they scuttle about with a distinct hunched posture
FIELD NOTES:
-It can survive in a wide range of habitats and climatic conditions
from Arctic to the tropics.
-Birds are often faithful to particular sites, returning there year after year.
-Ruddy Turnstones are fairly long-lived birds with a low annual mortality rate.
-Clutch: 2-5
-Nest Location: It is a monogamous bird and pairs may remain together for more than one breeding season. The nest is a shallow scrape,
often with a lining of leaves or lichens
MIGRATION: from Virginia to parts of Florida for winter
FIELD MARKS: L: 18”WINGSPAN: 32”
-with their pink legs they prefer to walk or run, they seldom take flight unless there’s an intruder
-They have a 3-4’ orange compressed, chisel-tipped bill used to pry open shells for food, but sometimes hammers or chips them open as well, bright yellow eyes with red rings around them, black upper body, white bellies
FIELD NOTES:
-Oystercatchers are very protective of their young. To distract predators, adult birds will fake an injury to attract attention away from the nest or pretend to brood where there is no nest, Oystercatchers sometimes give such extensive care to their young that the adults will starve themselves in the process
-Clutch: 2-3, Both parents incubate, Several scrapes are made by the male and edged with shells, pebbles and seaweed the female inspects then chooses what she feels is best to accept her eggs
Gulf Coast
MIGRATION: go N in March to nest after clutch hatches, head back to FL in early of July
FIELD MARKS: L: 11” WINGSPAN: 19”
-Long pale beige legs, brownish bill twice as long as its head
FIELD NOTES:
-The nest and eggs of this species eluded discovery until 1906, and even that
information was overlooked for a long while because they were attributed to the Long-billed Dowitcher. The nesting grounds were not discovered until the late 1950s.
-they use a "sewing-machine" method of foraging across the mud flats.
-Clutch: 4
-Locale: Mudflats or shallow pools in marshes, Diet: worms, snails, and crustaceans
** long-billed Dowitchers are said to prefer freshwater habitats whereas
Short-bills are more likely on coastal shorelines.
** Long-billed Dowitcher is most common west of the Mississippi.
MIGRATION: Breeds in northwestern Alaska and the Arctic Canada.
FIELD MARKS: L: 11 1/2”WINGSPAN:
-stocky shorebird with a mottled plumage, black beak and legs.
FIELD NOTES:
-Feeds by tilting forward, taking a few steps, and tilting forward again.
-The Black-bellied Plover is the only American plover that has a hind toe on its foot.
The hind toe, however, is so small that it is difficult to see in the field.
- Also known as Grey Plovers, they are the largest of the North American plovers.
They can be found on six different continents during the winter season, but breed only on the Arctic tundra.
-Black Bellied Plovers are sensitive to disturbance & end up being sentinels for other shorebird species.
FIELD MARKS: L: 15-17”WINGSPAN: 40”
-Breeding adult has a black hood, white underparts, slate gray wings w/ black outer primaries, in winter gray wash on nape
-The Laughing Gull is the largest of the dark-hooded gulls.
FIELD NOTES:
-call resembles a loud laughing ha-ha-ha
-Forages on decayed fish, crabs, insects, garbage and anything else it can get to!
-It takes 3 years to get full adult plumage
Locale: marshes, bays, beaches & piers
Fosters Tern
-Terns are faster, have forked tails, pointed beaks and a more streamlined body
-Terns swoop down and grab fish from the water, but seldom sit on the water like Gulls
-Terns hover in the air for quite some time, then dive straight down into the water, grab the fish and become airborne once again.
-Gulls are much larger
MIGRATION: Northeast coast to FL in winter
FIELD MARKS: L: 15” WINGSPAN : 34”
-Medium size Tern, short black legs, they are the only Tern to have a black bill w/ yellow tip
-fairly long deeply forked tail, black cap, black mask that extends rearward from eye to a spiky crest at rear of head (winter a white forehead),
FIELD NOTES:
-They get their name from the town in Kent County England where they were discovered in 1787.
-extirpated from the state for the bulk of the 20th century, but their making a come back, today they are found world-wide.
-like most Terns, they plunge for fish from as high as 33’ to penetrate over 3’.
-Clutch: 1-2 Per Year: 1
-Nest Location: among Royal Terns in dense colonies, the pair digs a shallow scrape In extreme
hot weather the incubating adult may leave nest to dip belly in water to cool nest.
-center of colony less risk
-Shore, shrimp, baitfish-sardines, anchovies, etc
nesting season (Mar-Aug) in Florida and migrate to South America for the winter.
FIELD MARKS: L: 8-10” WINGSPAN: 20”
-Legs dark, bill bright yellow w/ a black tip,.
-Their bill is often aimed downward as they fly and hover in search for food
-Their narrow, pointed wings make them streamlined flyers. They have a black cap and dark line behind the eye, (they loose the black cap in the winter) white forehead
FIELD NOTES:
Least Terns are the smallest North American terns.
-Clutch: 2-3Per Year: 1
-Nest Location: bare or sparsely vegetated sand, shell, and gravel beaches, sandbars, islands, and salt flats
-Least Terns will re-nest until late July if nesting site is destroyed.
**Please do not rush nest!!
Least Tern
FIELD MARKS: L: 18-20”WINGSPAN: 3 1/2’
-The Black Skimmer is unmistakable, they have Short red/orange legs,
-and a HUGE red and black bill, which is 2.5”. The bill is so laterally compressed that it almost disappears when the skimmer is seen straight on.
-skimmers are the only birds whose lower mandible is longer than the upper one they use this to feed. By cutting the water’s surface with the lower mandible and snatching their prey with a quick downward snap
FIELD NOTES:
-a gregarious bird that is active in the dawn and dusk
-Clutch: 3-5 Per Year: 1
-Nest Location: Black Skimmers nest directly on the beach; their nests are a simple depression,
scooped in the sand. The eggs blend in so perfectly with the beach they are difficult to see. **Gravel rooftops have partly replaced natural breeding areas
Locale: Sandy marine coasts & estuaries (Seen off Shell Island Rd)
Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer
FIELD MARKS: L: 22-25”WINGSPAN: 6 Foot!
-Beige, legs &feet have spiny foot pads to enhance grip, bill gray, w/ dark bandit mask from the beak through eye & down the neck, **(Eagle has yellow bill, feet & eyes)
-Back & tail are dark brown, head neck & underparts are white
FIELD NOTES:
-may circle or hovering when they find suitable prey, they often plunge dramatically
33-100 feet, at which time the Ospreys legs swing forward at the very last second & enter the water at full momentum of the body pushing the talons into contact with the fish. The fish are then carried head first and aligned with the osprey body for easier flight.
-Clutch: 1-4 2-3 day intervals
-Length of incubation: 33 days, the males regularly supply nest relief (2-3 nests)
-Days to fledge: 53 days supplemental feedings may last for 100 days
