January 14th, 2012
Greetings from the Gatorland Rookery!
Our birds have kicked-off the breeding season. The Great Egrets are in all stages of breeding behaviors. I observed courtship displays, allopreening, and mating. Many are standing on what looks to be potential nest sites; many are building nests and two are already sitting on an egg. Three Wood Storks are hanging out in their usual nesting trees on the eastern edge. Our other common wading species are around but don’t seem to be switching into gear yet. Double-crested Cormorants are nesting on the south island in the main lake. Three of their apparently healthy chicks were visible and I estimate them to be just a couple weeks old.
One Roseate Spoonbill was sitting on the east edge of the breeding marsh just north of the Wood Storks. Other birds for the day included Osprey, Limpkin, Belted Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night-heron, and plenty of Anhinga’s, among others.
It’s looking to be another great year at this stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail! Stay tuned and I’ll see you bright and early in February!
Gatorland’s man of many birds,
Adam Hall
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Adam Bird Man