Wood Stork

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/2/10

The Wood Stork is the only truly North American Stork. The Jabiru is an occasional non-breeding visitor from Central America. The rest of the storks are mostly in Africa and Asia. I have included pictures of a few African storks in the South Africa Galleries.

Snowy Egret

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/2/10

Roseate Spoonbill

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/2/10

Great Blue Heron

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/2/10

Blue-winged Teal

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/8/11

Northern Pintail

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/8/11

Florida Scrub Jay

Cruickshank Sanctuary, FL
2/6/12

The Florida Scrub Jay is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It lives in very isolated colonies in the Scrub Oak country of Florida which is constantly under the threat of being developed. Most of the Florida Scrub Jay colonies are being monitored, hence the three bands on this bird.

Florida Scrub Jay

Cruickshank Sanctuary, FL
2/6/12

The Florida Scrub Jays show little fear of people and appear friendly to the point of sitting on the head of a friend.

American Bittern

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/8/12

Black Skimmer

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/6/13

Black Skimmers feed by skimming over the water with their longer bottom bill just below the surface to catch small fish.

American Coot

Merritt Island, FL
2/6/13

The winter American Coot population in Florida is enormous, and they are often seen in huge rafts on larger bodies of water.

Sunset on Merrit Island

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/6/13

Great Egret and Snowy Egret

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/4/15

Occasionally one comes across a large gathering of both Great and Snowy Egrets feeding together. This one even included a few Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills.

Reddish Egret

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/4/15

Ring-necked Duck

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/4/15

The Ring-necked Duck is named for the males inconspicuous dark reddish brown ring around the base of his neck. You can see part of the ring in this photo.

Wood Stork

Merritt Island NWR, FL
2/4/15

Wood Storks feed in 6 to 10 inches of water by probing with their bills partly open, called grope-feeding, and often gently stirring the water with their pink feet. When a fish touches the sensitive bill, it quickly snaps shut. The average response time of this reflex is 25 milliseconds, making it one of the fastest reflexes known in vertebrates. One suspects that the color of the feet must also be helping them in some way.