On a recent sunset trip to the wetlands, I saw many of the big pink birds busy gathering nesting material and flying it to prospective nesting spots. A person on the Orlando Wetlands Facebook page said that at least one nest was already occupied.
It was fun watching them break off twigs and sticks with their big spoon-shaped beaks. They use their wings as leverage when gathering larger nesting material – creating some really nice images of the beautiful birds.
I have to think the clock may be ticking toward the arrival of some little spoonies soon.
Roseate Spoonbill, nesting at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, gathering nesting material at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, gathering nesting material at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, gathering nesting material at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, gathering nesting material at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, gathering nesting material at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, looking for nesting material at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, gathering nesting material at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, looking for a nesting spot at Orlando Wetlands, January 2025.
After my tour of Mead Garden with the Orange Audubon Society group, I decided to return and see if I could spot some birds I missed on the previous trip: a family of Barred Owls. I saw a youngster with the Audubon group, but he was far away and it…
It was typical 2024 Florida winter weather when I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Jan. 27. It was sunny, then cloudy, then rainy, then cloudy, then sunny, etc. Rinse and repeat, as they say.