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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

IT'S A CONSPIRACY!

Between football games, MacDaddy and I took a "get me outta here" drive to the beach. A weather change was imminent and the birds were standing in shallow water, facing the wind. Among the hundreds of sea gulls, sandpipers and plovers were some strange-looking birds...black-tipped wings, red beaks that tapered to black. I had never seen these birds before, so I "googled" them... 
(photo from web)
Black Skimmers are tern-like birds and the ONLY bird in the world whose lower mandible is longer than the upper. They are so named because of the way they feed...they fly just above the water's surface and skim the top with their lower beaks open "like a pair of scissors". They are the most interesting birds...with their sleek bodies, black tipped feathers and brilliantly red beaks and legs. 
And they just stood there watching me, as I walked within a few feet of them. I leaned that they often nest in this area of Florida, but that we're also on the migratory path.  The most fascinating thing I learned, though, is that a group of Black Skimmers are calls a "CONSPIRACY".  Pretty cool, huh?


I am linking with Outdoor Wednesday and Watery Wednesday.

9 comments:

Completely Coastal said...

That pop of red is gorgeous, haha! What a cool bird.

Anonymous said...

I learned something new - they are very pretty!

Unknown said...

Love your photos! Thanks for sharing Joann

Andrea said...

They are very beautiful birds and photos. I can understand the structure of the beak related to function, but i wonder how the red color at the base help the species!

Rinkly Rimes said...

Someone was very inventive with that group name! Interesting birds.

Lori Lamb said...

What a beautiful blog! I'm so glad I stumbled upon you today.

Lori
http://lapetitepilot.blogspot.com

Ebie said...

Your shutter just caught them right on the spot! Beautiful birds!

Hootin Anni said...

I was just at a bay near my home the other day and there was a flock of the Black Skimmers at the shore...they're such odd birds, yet ever so fascinating.

STAR OF INDIA

Light and Voices said...

Inbetween football games you got to see the birds. Hey, that is my story and I'm sticking to it except mine were pigeons by BIG LOTS in a parking lot....tee hee. My photo wasn't nice enough to post. Your photographs are great.
Joyce M