AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra Americana)
This remarkable wading bird is a migratory resident of
Estero Island, but occasionally turns up on our beaches in its
magnificent breeding season plumage. Usually found in grey and black plumage,
the striking coloration and elegant profile of the American Avocet stands out
among our shorebirds. Standing on the longest of legs they feed on invertebrates
with wide sweeps of their delicate upturned bill. When nesting, the Avocet is remarkably aggressive towards predators, sometimes, physically
striking crows and hawks. American Avocets may lay eggs in their own nests or
use the nest of other shore birds. This also occurs with other species of
shorebirds who leave their own eggs to be raised by Avocets. The young
can leave the nest after only one day, feeding, walking and even diving on
their own.
The birds shown in these photographs were observed feeding in the
surf on the south end of Estero Island.
