A pair of breeding American Avocets wade and feed in shallow water. These big, slender shorebirds eat by running their curved bills through shallow water and mud, whether salty or fresh. Their diet includes bugs, small fish, and seeds from aquatic plants. In breeding plumage, these American Avocets display an orangey buff head and neck, a stark contrast to their pale gray nonbreeding appearance. All year round, this bird keeps its strikingly beautiful black and white wings.
This immature brown pelican landed on a rock near the ocean in southern Florida. A juvenile Brown Pelican’s brown and pale coloring transforms into the adult’s vibrant feathers over 3–4 years. Throughout the year, these birds can be found in coastal marine habitats on the eastern and western shores of the United States. Headfirst plunges into the water are how they typically feed throughout the day. Florida’s mangrove islands are common nesting grounds for them. These huge birds reach sexual maturity around 4-5 years.
This NonBreeding American White Pelican caught me off guard when it suddenly took off from the water next to me while I was strolling around a lake. Their winter residency in Florida is limited to November through March. I saw this one in January. The “Snowbirds” of Florida are some of the world’s largest birds, and they love spending their winter in the beautiful weather of Florida. The American White Pelican migrates north during the summer to breed.
A tall wading bird, the Wood Stork has a massive wingspan. The Wood Stork is the sole stork that breeds in North America. The US Fish and Wildlife service considers them Federally threatened because of their small breeding and living area. Wetland water level changes make them vulnerable since they search for prey by feeling with their beak. Wood Storks have an uncommon appearance, featuring a bald scaly head, long beak, long legs, and a body shaped like a football. This one enabled me to capture a close head shot in the evening light.
Decreasing scrub oak habitat has caused this stunning blue Florida Scrub-Jay to be uncommon and listed as endangered. The only place this bird calls home is Florida. The entire group will change location if the low-growing scrub oaks reach a certain height. They form permanent monogamous bonds, and live in family groups. Until they find a territory of their own, the young remain and assist with feeding their siblings for several years. It’s typical for them to establish their own family territory near their hatching area. Each group has a sentinel bird appointed to guard against predators. This Scrub-Jay was acting as the sentinel perched on this small branch. The sentinel emits a distinct call when they perceive danger, signaling the rest of the family group to take cover.
