Re: Roseate Terns at Marathon

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Posted by Vince on 22:53:18 06/29/04

In Reply to: Re: Roseate Terns at Marathon posted by John Boyd

: The red is an indicator of health and also varies regionally. I'll just quote from Olsen & Larsson's "Terns of Europe and North America"
:
: "Red is acquired in Europe/North America from (mid May) early June, after completion of egg laying. Red bill base is broadest (50-60% of bill; black tip 17-35mm: west Europe) from brood-feeding period until leaving the breeding site. Birds in best condition acquire the most red."
:
: and
:
: "Nominate dougallii from the West Indies generally have broader red bill base in the breeding season from late May...Red can cover the inner two-thirds of the bill during the brooding season."

John:

So then all of the larger terns at the Marathon Government Center are Roseates? I'm floored. Both Vince McGrath and I saw them last Sunday and would have sworn on a stack of Bibles that there were Forster's there. Guess we have a lot to learn about terns! Speaking of terns, we found at least a half-dozen set of Least Tern wings on the ground adjacent to the Government Bldg. We also saw a VERY large cat in the nearby vegetation. We surmised that these very young Least Terns had fallen off of the rooftop and the cat got them. What do you think?
We also saw the Antillean Nighthawks (x3) at the Marathon Airport at precisely 7:30 PM. White-crowned Pigeons were plentiful almost everywhere we went.
Earlier in the day, we ran into Larry Manfredi and guests at Betty Furchgott's where we saw a pair of young Spot-breasted Orioles and a Mitred Parakeet in a mango tree. In the neighboorhood, we also had a pair of fly-by Red-whiskered Bubuls and a nice flock of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets across the street from the Baptist Hospital.
We witnessed a sad event at the Cave Swallow nesting site on Hainlin Mill Road and the service road to the Florida Turnpike. A baby cave swallow had somehow fallen out of its nest and was literally hanging on for dear life while all of the adult birds in the colony were flying around it, obviously highly stressed. The baby finally let go and fell into the canal. It tried desperately to keep its head above water. Vince McGrath, donned his bathing suit and jumped in the canal to try to save the bird. Despite his valiant effort, the bird died.
Backtracking even further, we had a pair of Snail Kites along U.S. Rte. 41 near the Fritchey Road Wetlands in Collier County. A very active King Rail was seen walking along the berm of US Rte. 41 and then flying across that highway near the old abandoned airboat ride on the Miccosukee Reservation. That is in Dade County.

Cheers.

Vince Lucas
Naples

Follow Ups:

Re: Roseate Terns at Marathon - Nancy Fawcett 22:41:39 07/31/04 (0)
Re: Roseate Terns at Marathon - Alex 12:13:04 06/30/04 (1)
- Re: Roseate Terns at Marathon - Steve 12:38:45 06/30/04 (0)
Re: Roseate Terns at Marathon - John Boyd 07:57:55 06/30/04 (0)

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Comments:	: : The red is an indicator of health and also varies regionally. I'll just quote from Olsen & Larsson's "Terns of Europe and North America" : : : : "Red is acquired in Europe/North America from (mid May) early June, after completion of egg laying. Red bill base is broadest (50-60% of bill; black tip 17-35mm: west Europe) from brood-feeding period until leaving the breeding site. Birds in best condition acquire the most red." : : : : and : : : : "Nominate <i>dougallii</i> from the West Indies generally have broader red bill base in the breeding season from late May...Red can cover the inner two-thirds of the bill during the brooding season." : : : John: : : So then all of the larger terns at the Marathon Government Center are Roseates? I'm floored. Both Vince McGrath and I saw them last Sunday and would have sworn on a stack of Bibles that there were Forster's there. Guess we have a lot to learn about terns! Speaking of terns, we found at least a half-dozen set of Least Tern wings on the ground adjacent to the Government Bldg. We also saw a VERY large cat in the nearby vegetation. We surmised that these very young Least Terns had fallen off of the rooftop and the cat got them. What do you think? : We also saw the Antillean Nighthawks (x3) at the Marathon Airport at precisely 7:30 PM. White-crowned Pigeons were plentiful almost everywhere we went. : Earlier in the day, we ran into Larry Manfredi and guests at Betty Furchgott's where we saw a pair of young Spot-breasted Orioles and a Mitred Parakeet in a mango tree. In the neighboorhood, we also had a pair of fly-by Red-whiskered Bubuls and a nice flock of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets across the street from the Baptist Hospital. : We witnessed a sad event at the Cave Swallow nesting site on Hainlin Mill Road and the service road to the Florida Turnpike. A baby cave swallow had somehow fallen out of its nest and was literally hanging on for dear life while all of the adult birds in the colony were flying around it, obviously highly stressed. The baby finally let go and fell into the canal. It tried desperately to keep its head above water. Vince McGrath, donned his bathing suit and jumped in the canal to try to save the bird. Despite his valiant effort, the bird died. : Backtracking even further, we had a pair of Snail Kites along U.S. Rte. 41 near the Fritchey Road Wetlands in Collier County. A very active King Rail was seen walking along the berm of US Rte. 41 and then flying across that highway near the old abandoned airboat ride on the Miccosukee Reservation. That is in Dade County. : : Cheers. : : Vince Lucas : Naples
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