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Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) By Jan Baumgartner The purple gallinule’s distinctive plumage is awash with its eponymous hue along with a range of vibrant blues and greens. Gallinules are included in the rail family of birds whose members are chicken-like marsh dwellers with short wings and tail and disproportionately long legs and toes. True to […]
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 […]
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 […]
The nesting season for sea turtles starts May 1 and runs through Oct. 31.Sea turtles are a protected species, and it’s vital that visitors and residents of Siesta Key take measures to maintain their habitat and increase their chance for survival. Here are some tips:Do:* If you encounter a nesting turtle or hatchlings, remain quiet […]
Great egret (Ardea alba) The great egret is an elegant heron adorned in white, magnificent plumage and is nearly the sizeof the great blue heron. Inhabiting six of the seven continents, this long-legged and long-necked marvel is at home near most bodies of water, salt or fresh. The great egretserves as the “spokesbird” for the […]
There will be a virtual training session for volunteers looking to be bird stewards at our local beach nesting sites, hosted by Kylie Wilson of Audubon Florida, at 7 p.m. March 23. The training will be recorded so if you cannot attend you can still access the information. Wilson works with many birds that frequent […]
Anhinga In coastal areas of the southeastern United States, anhingas live year-round from North Carolina to Florida to Texas. They prefer lakes, marshes, lagoons, and mangrove swamps thick with tall trees and lush vegetation — near either fresh or saltwater. In the fork of a tree overhanging the water, anhinga pairs build platform nests out […]
This stocky heron with its hunched-over appearance and menacing red eyes looks like it belongs in a suspenseful Hitchcock thriller! However, the nocturnal activities of this statuesque black-and-gray bird are not as sinister as you might imagine. The night heron hunts at dark when there is less competition from other herons that have the […]
Satchel’s Last Resort Animal Shelter/Sanctuary will be present at the Phillippi Farmhouse Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26. The market is located at 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Stop by the Satchel’s tent and meet some of the fur babies looking for their forever home. The organization will also have recipe books for […]