The Birds of Sanibel

The mangrove swamps and mud flats are not the only locations for birding on Sanibel. The beach is also a good place to spot birds like the Least Tern. This tiny tern is smaller than a robin, but dives fearlessly into the waves to feed on small fish. They are considered threatened in Florida because development on the beach has reduced their nesting habitat. Fortunately there are a few places, like Sanibel and some areas on Fort Myers Beach where their nest sites are protected.

So far in addition to the Least Terns and Yellow-Crowned Night Herons we’ve seen: White Ibis, Snowy Plover, Laughing Gull, Black-bellied Plover, Osprey, Sandwich Tern, Royal Tern, Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelican, White Pelican, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Eurasian Collared Dove, English Sparrow, Great Egret, Mottled Duck, Tricolored Heron, Swallow-tailed Kite, Common Ground Dove, Double-crested Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebe, Fish Crow, Reddish Egret, Mockingbird, Dunlin, Anhinga, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Palm Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Boat-tailed Grackle, Snowy Egret, Killdeer, and Magnificent Frigate Birds. Still looking for Roseate Spoonbills and Little Blue Herons, and hoping to find time to carve some of them.

On May 12, 2015   /   Uncategorized   /   1 Comment