Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
One of the most unique and unmistakable North American birds, the Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is an incredible waterbird with a massive bill used to scoop fish from the water while in flight. Watching a Black Skimmer feeding, using the length of the bill’s lower mandible to penetrate the water’s surface to snag prey, can seem rather surreal. Evolution and adaptation can certainly be unexpected and staggeringly effective. In this case this bird was playing with a leaf! Perhaps it was good foraging practice during this warm Florida vacation.
Read MoreWillets in Waves
These Willets were enjoying the warm waters of Florida’s western shore, resting and preening when Twan photographed them. The birds certainly must be pleased to be in the Gulf of Mexico as opposed to say, the Gulf of Maine right now, but they will be back here soon.
Read MoreBlack & White Ice & Ducks
This is just some of the ice that was present on Long Island Sound in the month of February. On certain days large swaths of the Sound were covered in sizable sheets of ice in an almost unprecedented crushing blow from this season’s ridiculously cold climate. This black and white photo is really representative of how it has felt in the Northeast. There has been a lot of waterfowl to be seen given that most areas other than the waters of the Atlantic Ocean have been frozen solid.
Read MoreBanded American Oystercatcher Discovered
Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History President Twan Leenders recently returned from Bradenton, Florida where he was attending RTPI board meetings. In between sessions he made sure to find an hour or two for some bird surveys, especially targeting species relevant to active RTPI conservation projects. Our work as a partner in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds has us focused on the terns, long-legged waders and threatened shorebirds like the American Oystercatcher seen here. Did you happen to notice the silver federal band on the bird’s right leg? This would be very...
Read MoreSnowy Owl in Flight
Let’s be honest – this winter has been absolutely brutal! Whether we want to blame this continuous weather pattern on climate change or not, this is not what the climate is supposed to feel like in mid to late February. As the sun keeps rising temperatures keep plummeting with record low minimums at night and record low maximums during the day. The snow keeps coming, and more will be coming this weekend. However, the Snowy Owls have been a bit tougher to find this year than last. Nevertheless, there are many individuals spending their season here in our neighborhoods, which look...
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