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White ibis (Eudocimus albus) The ibis is one of the many long-legged wading birds you will see around Siesta Key’s tidal pools, mangroves, and wetland areas. With its decurved bill and mixed brown and white plumage, could this specimen be the product of an ibis/limpkin moonlit tryst? Not at all! As this juvenile ibis matures, […]
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)This statuesque member of the heron family is often called a living fossil. Resembling its prehistoric ancestor from 1.8 million years ago, the great blue remains virtually unchanged today. The heron’s nearly 5-foot-tall frame, comprised mostly of neck and legs, gives this colossal carnivore unmatched reach and power. The heron’s lightning-quick […]
Tour the shallow-water treasures throughout the area with Siesta Key Snorkel By Jane Bartnett Siesta Key’s coastline offers a magical setting for snorkeling. It’s a chance to see the many fish, grasses, artificial reefs and aquatic wildlife that make their home close to our shores. When it’s time to put on that snorkel mask, don […]
Osprey (fish hawk) • Pandion haliaetus By Jan Baumgartner Circling high above the Siesta Key shoreline, the osprey is the only NorthAmerican hawk who dines almost exclusively on live fish, both fresh- and saltwater.It takes lots of protein (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids) to fuel the exploits of thislarge raptor weighing 2 to 4 pounds […]
By Jane Bartnett On Oct. 31, the 2021 sea turtle nesting season came to an official close. The outlook for these treasured and important residents of the Siesta Key shoreline, according to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium researchers, is encouraging. This year, the organization reported that the team counted a total of 3,786 nests across […]
This monochrome shorebird, clothed in striking black and white plumage, combines haute couture and foraging in the low tide on Turtle Beach.A bold checkerboard graphic splashed across its wings and a stylish white cap cascading from brow to shoulder complete the plover’s breeding plumage ensemble.During the rest of the year, the plover’s understated non-breeding attire […]
By Jane Bartnett Saving Siesta Key’s seabirds is a pursuit for which Siesta Key resident Dave Thomas has become passionate. He is “our best seabird rescuer and our only volunteer on the Key,” said Jocelyn Shearer of the non-profit Save Our Seabirds organization. Delivering an impassioned plea for volunteers while speaking last month to the […]
This medium/small parrot whose origin story begins in the tropics of central South America is not native to Florida. However, permanent colonies became established in the lower latitudes of the U. S. when these popular pets either escaped or were released into the wild in the 1960s.The greater Tampa Bay area boasts one of the […]
Dismal season for snowy plover on Siesta Key The snowy plover, for a variety of reasons, had a tough time this year on Siesta Key. Kylie Wilson, shorebird coordinator for Audubon Florida, gives the following report: “This past nesting season, snowy plovers laid only two nests on Siesta. That is the fewest number of nests […]
This large, American wading bird is sometimes misnamed the Wood Ibis because of a decurved bill reminiscent of the smaller yet unrelated ibis. Other nicknames include flinthead, stonehead, and ironhead. These monikers aptly describe the stork’s prehistoric-looking head and neck that, in their featherless state, give the appearance of stone. This is the only stork […]