Wading birds

In 2021, the Western monarch butterfly made an astounding comeback in California, the Great Barrier Reef displayed unmistakable signs of recovery in Australia, and a giant tortoise thought to be extinct for more than a century was deemed alive, well, and in desperate need of a mate in the Galapagos Islands. Nature launched another environmental marvel closer to home in 2021, one just made public. Wading birds, long-considered sentinel species because the health of their populations track closely with the well-being of the environment they inhabit, nested throughout the Florida Everglades in vast numbers not seen since the 1930s. Nearly 102,000 The stunning total is 2.5 times more nests for certain common species than in recent decades, and is akin to the birds’ strong reproductive environment in the early 1900s before flood control dams and ponds were created that changed the effectiveness of the Everglades ecosystem forever. Nearly 34 percent of nests statewide were found in coastal areas, a critical area for wading birds where avian restoration scientists have been working unsuccessfully to restore nesting habitat for years. Wading birds in Southwest Florida did not do as well as the population as a whole, but were still more successful than during some years in the 1980s and ‘90s that produced less than 5,000 nests statewide. (For detailed 2021 nesting numbers at specific Southwest Florida parks and preserves click “We are so happy that in 2021, the Everglades experienc...

Skulking through wetlands, the American bittern is rarely seen - it has an extremely slow and stealthy walk, and when a threat approaches it freezes and mimics marshland plants with upright posture and beak pointed skyward. These behaviors combined with its cryptic plumage effectively camouflage the bird. However, it is occasionally seen in flight, and its low, gurgling song can be heard over long distances. An uncommon to fairly common breeder east of the Cascades and a rare migrant in Malheur county it has also been noted at mountain lakes east of the Cascades in Lake County. In western Oregon it is uncommon along the coast, Sauvie Island, and has been noted in spring in northeast Jackson County. Wintering birds have been found thought the state except for the Blue Mountains. Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp Inconspicuous and master of stealth, the Least bittern inhabits densely vegetated deep-water marshes, making observations rare and difficult; its call is often the only way to detect this secretive species. The smallest of herons, its long neck and legs make it appear larger. The crown, back and tail of male birds is greenish black; purple-chestnut on female. Neck, flanks, and underparts are brown and white and the wings buff. It is a rare spring and summer resident in larger freshwater marshes of eastern Oregon and a very rare spring through fall visitor in the Rogue and Willamette valleys. At Upper Klamath, Malheur and Klamath National Wildlife Areas, this species occur...

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America Wading Birds Échassiers Herons, Egrets, Flamingos, Ibises, Night-Herons, Spoonbill & Stork Ardeidae, Ciconiidae, Phoenicopteridae & Threskiornitidae Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities Enter Bird's Name in Search Box: www.birds-of-north-america.net Wading birds and Florida wading birds are synonymous. This is true because all the wading birds seen in North America can be found and seen in the state of Florida, at one time or another. Wading birds like the Great Egret is once again being seen throughout the southern US states. These large white birds are now found nesting in the southern regions of Canada. The recovery of these wading birds is thanks to the protection given by the federal states and provinces, guaranteeing them places to nest and feed without threat or harm. These birds have a preference for marshes, swamps, mudflats and shallow bodies of water all along the lakes, rivers and coastlines throughout Florida and the warmer areas of North America. Below you will find images and information on these waders. These birds include the herons, egrets, flamingos, ibises, night-herons, spoonbill and storks. All of these types of waders can be seen among the wetlands or close to them. References to Other Bird Sites: These are links to websites pertaining to the different birding institutions, societies and organizations ...

1.28 Final remarks Did you recently spot a wading bird in the state of Florida? In that case you’ll probably want to know what species you saw. Identifying the wading birds of Florida is not as easy as it might seem, since there are surprisingly many birds in the Sunshine State that fit this description. To help you identify the bird you saw, we’ll cover the most important types of Florida wading birds. What are the types of wading birds in Florida? There are 25 types of wading birds that can be encountered in Florida, which are described in full detail below. Great Egret Scientific name: Ardea alba The Great Egret has a range that spans nearly the whole planet, and can be found on almost all continents. These During the spring and summer breeding seasons, the Great Egret grows a plume on its back that extends all the way to the tip of its tail. It lives in both saltwater and freshwater habitats, and often nests in large colonies on the shores of marshes, lakes, and rivers. Great Egrets forage in any type of shallow water, including ponds, lakes, rivers, estuaries, as well as rice fields and other flooded areas in Florida. Cattle Egret Scientific name: Bubulcus ibis Smaller than Great Egrets, Cattle Egrets have shorter necks and are mostly white with streaks of brownish orange on the head, throat, and back. The Cattle Egret is a relatively new species in the New World that originated in Europe and Africa. Nobody knows how these herons crossed the Atlantic, but they were fi...

Have you seen white, long-beaked birds in your neighborhood? Maybe a pair of tall birds out for a stroll, or a massive grey bird flying overhead? All these birds are considered wading birds. They love shallow water and frequent lakes, ponds, marshes, wetlands, and streams. Most have long legs and toes for wading and long (sometimes curved) beaks for feeding. In addition, their long necks give them a better view of their prey. Wading birds have a varied diet which includes fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and crustaceans. Their exact diet varies among species, seasons, regions, and habitats. For the most part they are opportunistic feeders – they aren’t too picky and eat what is available. From left to right: A White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, and Snowy Egret. Credit: Phil Lanoue Egrets How can you tell these birds apart? White wading birds with straight beaks are called egrets. They vary in size from 18 inches to 3 feet tall. A large egret with black legs and feet is a Great Egret. A smaller egret with yellow feet is a Snowy Egret. And finally, the smallest of the egrets is a Cattle Egret. It often hangs out in flat pastures, following cattle eating insects stirred up by the cows. Ibis If a white wading bird has a curved beak, it is a White Ibis. Its relative the Glossy Ibis is scarcer and has dark, almost black, coloring. Herons There are many herons in Florida. Most notably the Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America, spanning 3 to 5 feet long. It has sl...