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Nature: Endangered Birds (2) |
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 American
Oystercatcher
(Haematopus palliatus) SSC- A large, boldly-patterned bird, the American
Oystercatcher is conspicuous along ocean shores and salt marshes. The
American Oystercatcher is found on the
Atlantic coast of North America from New England to northern
Florida, where it is also found on the Gulf coast, and south to northern
South America. True to its name, it is specialized in feeding on
bivalves (oysters, clams, and mussels) and uses its brightly colored
bill to get at them. The bird is uniquely marked by its black and white
body and a long, thick orange beak. This shorebird is approximately
19 inches in length. Brown
Pelican
(Pelecanus occidentalis) SSC- The brown pelican is the
smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in
nearly every other regard. It is 42-54 inches in length, weighs from
6-12 lb and has a wingspan from6 to 8.2 ft. Brown pelican can be found
on coasts in the Americas from Washington and Virginia south to northern
Chile and the mouth of the Amazon River. After nesting, North American
birds move in flocks further north along the
coasts, returning to warmer waters
for winter. Their young are hatched in broods of about 3, and eat around
150 lbs. of fish in the 8-10 month period they are cared for. Black
Skimmer
(Rynchops niger) SSC- In Florida, skimmers frequently occur
inland, sometimes in large numbers, and have bred near Belle Grande in
south.-central Florida and at Lake Okeechobee. The remarkable bill of
the Black Skimmer is sets it apart from all other American birds. The
large red and black bill is knife-thin and the lower mandible is longer
than the upper. The bird drags the lower bill through the water as it
flies along, hoping to catch small fish. Black Skimmers are highly
nocturnal. Although they can occasionally be seen foraging in the
daytime the bulk of their feeding activities and chick provisioning
takes place from dusk to dawn. Skimmers forage mainly in tidal waters of
bays, estuaries and lagoons but also utilize
rivers, and salt marsh pools, creeks,
and ditches; such habitats tend to concentrate small fish. Least
Tern
(Sterna antillarum) Threatened- The smallest of American Terns, the
Least Tern is found nesting on sandy beaches along the southern coasts
of the United States and up the major river systems far into the
interior of the continent. The least tern has a length of 8-9 inches
with a wing span of 20 inches. This bird has a rapid wing beat and dives
into the water for it's prey. The least tern is a diminutive tern with
very short legs, a short forked tail and a smooth head with no crest.
The yellow bill and legs, and white forehead of the adult Least Tern are
distinctive at rest. Roseate
Tern
(Sterna dougalli) Threatened- A medium-sized tern similar in appearance
to several other species, the Roseate Tern is primarily a tropical bird.
It breeds across the globe in tropical oceans. The roseate tern is a
medium sized tern like a gull like appearance. This bird is white with a
black head. The roseate tern's tail is long and forked, and it's white
wings contrast strongly with the black bill. Roseate Tern feed by
plunge-diving for fish, almost invariably from the sea; it is much more
marine than allied terns, only rarely visiting freshwater lagoons on the
coast to bathe and not fishing in fresh water. it has also been known to
steal fish from other birds. Limpkin
(Aramus guarauna) SSC- The limpkin is a large unique marsh bird with a
dark brown body with white streaks on it's neck, back, wings and breast.
The limpkin feeds on freshwater snails, mussels, frogs, crustaceans and
insects. This bird resides in both Florida and Georgia, where it can be
found in wooded and brushy swamps marshes. The Limpkin is named for its
limping-like flight with its dangling legs and jerky wing beats. The
only species in its family, it is considered most closely related to
rails and cranes. The limpkin was once very common in Florida, but due
to the decline of its primary food source, the Florida Apple Snail, it
is now listed as a species of special concern. Reddish
Egret
(Egretta rufescens) SSC- The Reddish Egret is a small heron
bird. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the
Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Mexico. The reddish
egret reach 27-32 inches in length, with a 46-49 inch wing span. It is a
medium-sized, long-legged, long-necked heron with a long pointed pinkish
bill with a black tip. The legs and feet are bluish-black. The sexes are
similar, but there are two color variations. The adult dark morph has a
slate blue body and reddish head and neck with shaggy plumes. The adult
white morph has completely white body plumage. Young birds have a brown
body, head, and neck.
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