Wildlife in the Air
|
|
|
Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is one of the few known habitats of the endangered Florida Scrub-Jay, the only bird that is found only in Florida. These blue-gray birds "cooperatively breed," which means related members of a group will all help raise the young, feeding and defending them. They've also been seen to hunt in pairs. Like crows and other jays, they may collect shiny objects. They usually stay within a small radius of their birth area. |
 |
| Our skies are also home to another animal found only in Florida: the critically endangered Florida Bonneted Bat, so named because their ears make it look like they're wearing a bonnet. The species has been spotted—and heard—in the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area, believed to be the location of the largest population. This is one of the largest bats in the U.S., with a wingspan of 20" and a length of 6½" and they're the only known species whose echolocation can be heard by humans. |  |
|
The American Kestrel is a falcon—the smallest in the United States at around 9–12 inches long. They're sometimes referred to as the American Sparrowhawk. As with many wild species, the males are flashy, with blue-gray wings, and the females are plainer, with brown wings. They feed on insects, lizards, and even small mammals, for which they tend to hunt from atop telephone wires. In Florida, the American Kestrel is designated as threatened. |
 |
|
One could be excused for thinking they're in a Dr. Suess story when seeing their first Sandhill Crane. These birds can reach a height of 47.2 inches (120 centimeters)—almost four feet tall! They mate for life and form family units consisting of the breeding pair and offspring from the current year and often, chicks from previous years as well. These social birds will also often integrate into larger flocks for migration and/or to spend the winter months. |
 |
| Wherever there's water in Florida, there are wading birds (and alligators, of course). The largest of the wading birds is the Great Blue Heron. A common sight, but no less thrilling, you can see this bird either standing motionless in or near water while hunting or soaring on their impressive wingspan. |  |
| Like Flamingos, Roseate Spoonbills are pink due to their diet of shrimp, krill, and other organisms high in carotenoids. The spoonbill of this unique bird allows them to "sift" through mud and murky water to find prey. Interestingly, they're not born with the spoon-shaped bill. It doesn't begin to flatten until the chick is around 10 days old. |  |
| Anhingas swim with their heads and necks above the water, which makes them look like snakes. This unusual practice also inspired the Tupi Indians in Brazil to dub them "devil bird." This mostly silent species is often perched above the water, either hunting, drying its wings, or simply resting. They seek out quiet spots with sheltered waters, so they love it in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. |  |
| Bald Eagles thrive in many areas of Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. They even have dedicated areas, as in Cedar Point Environmental Center, which closes the trails around the Eagles during their nesting to protect the nests from people, and the people from territorial eagles. Interesting fact: eaglets can fly at just 10-12 weeks old! |  |
| One of the most iconic shorebirds in existence, the Pelican, is everywhere in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. You might see them sitting on docks, hunting at the beach, riding the wind after a boat, or floating in Charlotte Harbor. You can see several of these prehistoric-looking birds up close and personal at the Peace River Wildlife Center. |  |
| One of the most colorful shorebirds in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, the Ruddy Turnstone, is sometimes called the "calico bird" due to the distinctive coloration and pattern of breeding adults. When in non-breeding periods, the pattern will dull to a brownish mottle. True to their name, they forage for insects, larvae, and other invertebrates by using their slightly upturned bills to turn over stones, sea wood, shells, and other debris. |  |
