There are few things in life more entertaining than a territorial dispute among birds. In support of this contention, I humbly submit today's post as Exhibit A. This morning, I was heading down the walkway on the second floor to start my "daily rounds" (i.e., visiting two night heron nests, and an osprey nest). I …
The Bald Eagles of Sarasota County
Introduction There are numerous bald eagle nests in Sarasota County, but you have to know where to look. It may surprise you to know that the contiguous state with the most eagle nests is Florida, although it is sometimes cited as being neck-and-neck with Minnesota. Currently, nationwide statistics are relatively sparse; many bald eagle studies …
Bald Eagle on Siesta Key!
Dateline: South Siesta Key FL; 13 October 2019; 0900 - 0930 EDT In previous posts, I have documented the exploits of an osprey pair that regularly visits mi tierra on South Siesta Key. These graceful raptors are very accessible to humans, as they often build their nests close to shore on manmade structures, such as channel …
Of Bald Eagles and Scrub-Jays
Since moving here a couple of years ago, I've discovered that there are two birds revered by Floridians: the bald eagle and the Florida scrub-jay. I can easily understand the former. The bald eagle is a large, majestic raptor with distinctive white head and tail feathers (sometimes!) But the Florida scrub-jay? More on the latter …
