Weather Conditions:
Temperature: 72° F /22° C
Cloud Cover: 90% slight breeze
Temperature: 72° F /22° C
Cloud Cover: 90% slight breeze
Official
low tide time: 11:57am
Survey
start time: 11:02 am Survey end time: 1:00 pm
Tide
heights: -0.1 feet / -3 cm
Mud
Flats exposed? Y
|
Common Name
|
Counts of birds foraging on mud
flats
|
Behavior
Forage-F
Rest/roost-R
Fly over -FO
|
Disturbance
(Flushing-F, displaced-D, agitated-A)
|
Feeding location
*Primary flat (P)
Mangrove flat (M)
|
|
Great egret
|
1
|
F
|
D (P)
|
M
|
|
Snowy egret
|
3
|
F
|
D (P)-1
|
M
|
|
Great blue heron
|
3
|
F
|
|
P, M
|
|
Little blue heron
|
3
|
F
|
D (H)-1
|
M
|
|
Tricolored heron
|
1
|
F
|
|
M
|
|
white ibis
|
3
|
F
|
M
|
|
|
Total
|
14
|
|
|
|
Human counts (directly impacting mudflat): 2 fisherman; 5
kayakers; 2 paddle boarders
Notes: As noted at most surveys, most of the birds in the area
are utilizing the mangrove lines throughout the park. The mudflats seem to be
preferred roosting sites for seagulls and anhinga. There were several ducks in
the area today (as seen above in the photo).
The ducks aided in the foraging success of the three snowy
egrets and one pelican. The ducks would be chasing prey and moving them to the
snowy egrets. Several pelicans were feeding in the deeper waters nearby.
The humans seem to use the mudflats more than the birds.
Every single one observed walked directly over the main flats on both sides of
the survey area. Often they stop and camp out there. Leaving the birds no place
to forage.
images copyright Diane Arrieta/John D MacArthur Campus Library
and can not be used without prior consent.
No comments:
Post a Comment