The rescue of her first raptor was a life-changing event for her. She decided she wanted to work closely with raptors. She first volunteered and then became a staff member at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland.  She learned all she could about the care of these birds and finally got her permits to have raptors for environmental education programs.  About five years ago, she started her company, Wild About Birds, Inc., dedicated to environmental education, conservation and preservation of habitats for the benefit of Florida’s birds and other wildlife.

She specializes in environmental education programs for schools and her programs meet the Sunshine State Standards.

Gina brought her birds with her. They are Katie, an American Kestrel, Mr. Frodo, an Eastern Screech Owl, and Tomahawk, a Red-shouldered Hawk.  She  introduced them and told their individual stories.  She then discussed raptors in their natural environment.

Of the many things I learned was how the birds could swivel their heads around 270 degrees.  She said all birds can do this because they have 14 vertebrae in their necks.  We only have seven, which limits our ability to about 180 degrees.

To learn more about her and her company check out http://www.wildaboutbirds.org .

Thank you to everyone for your participation, to the boat and car owners for donating their vessels and vehicles and to the Marine Discovery Center for loaning us two kayaks. Special thanks to Capt Bill Rostock of Turtle Mound Enterprises for volunteering his time and boat to take Don and Nancy G. into Mosquito Lagoon.

We had a total of thirty surveyors out, six of whom were participating in their very first bird count of any kind.  They came from SEVAS, West Volusia Audubon, Halifax River Audubon and the Marine Discovery Center.  We had two cars on the causeways and inland, three boats on the Intra-coastal Waterway and Indian River Lagoon, four teams of walkers on the beach and for the first time two kayak teams from the Marine Discovery Center in the wetlands.  In total, we counted 8587 birds comprised of 45 species.  On the surface, this was good as we only saw 6371 birds in 43 species last year.  Unfortunately, the difference is mainly in the number of Laughing Gulls and Royal Terns counted.  The higher number of surveyors and broader area covered certainly helped with the species count.  As a matter of fact we have increased count every year as we have increased surveyors and covered the non-beach areas better.  The first year, 2009, we counted 3327 birds in 28 species and in 2010 we counted 4352 birds in 47 species.  This year, had the wind held off, we were hoping for 50 species.

We did not see any of the targeted birds on the beach but three of our teams saw a total of seven American Oystercatchers.  This is extremely positive as I hadn’t talked to anyone who had seen an Oystercatcher for the last couple of years.  We also did not see any banded shorebirds but did see a total of 62 banded Royal Terns, one with a band on each leg.

Citizen science is such a large part of the information gathering for the professionals, who use it to determine trends, set aside critical areas and in general look after the health and well-being of our feathered population.

All in all, it was a fun day and I hope everyone comes back next year.

To see a complete list of the  birds we saw in Excel format, click here.

Thanks to all who submitted pictures including:

Alan Wells: Willet, Black-bellied Plover and Red Knot

Dick Domroski: line-up of egrets and egrets with Red-breasted Mergansers

Glenn Gracom: kayak party and immature White Ibis

Snookie: White Pelicans near Three Sisters Islands

Tom Lee:Gulls and terns with Great Blacked-Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull and gaggle of gulls and terns

Sonya Guidry: Observers at the beach

Eli Shaperow: Common Loon, White Pelicans, Black-bellied Plover

Don Picard: American Oystercatcher

Thanks again.

Ken

The fly-in consists of about 100,000 gulls that spend their daytime at the landfill and other places where they eat.  They come to the beach for a few hours and then spend the night in the water just beyond the breakers.  It is the largest concentration of gulls anywhere in the U.S.

Although we did not see any unusual gulls, we got views of Laughing, Ring-billed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Great black-backed gulls.  Their proximity to each other gave us a visual distinction of their relative sizes which made for easier identification.

Many of us got new life birds when some Pomeranian Jaegers demonstrated their aerobatic maneuvers trying to force gulls into dropping food from their mouths.  Jaegers are klepto-parasitic, which means they will force other birds to let go their food as opposed to finding their own.

Thanks to Michael for spending some of his valuable time with us.

Click the pics for a larger view.

Gail

Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Reddish Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Green Heron
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Wood Stork
Mottled Duck
Gadwall
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Blue-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk
Bald Eagle
Osprey
American Kestrel
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Willet
Marbled Godwit
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Florida Scrub-Jay
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Painted Bunting
Savannah Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle

Based on the weather forecast, we elected to traverse the trail counter-clockwise so we ate and headed east. We spent time around the 17th century French fort at Louisburg to give the skies time to lighten and finally headed north about noon. Clockwise puts your car on the outside on all the cliffs and as I white-knuckled our rental Kia Soul up a twelve degree slope, hoping that it wouldn’t die, Beth kept me informed of the distance to the water. “It sure is a long way down there!” and “This cliff sure is steep!” etc. But as she pointed out later, she did not ever scream.

About half way up the east coast, we caught up with the rain again so stopped and birded around a place called Ingonish. I saw the brightest red-stripes on a Yellow Warbler that I have ever seen and leeward of an island I sighted several Common Eider, Great and Double-Crested Cormorants and a couple of American Black Ducks. We also got a great look at a Bald Eagle banking and finally landing, to try to evade a flock of irritated Rusty Blackbirds.

When the rain stopped, we continued north and then west across the island. We again caught up to the rain; this time as we climbed from zero to 1475 feet in 4 miles then down again. We got to the sea at Pleasant Bay and since it was still blowing a gale, we elected to stop there. We made a pass through town to size up accommodation options and came upon a restaurant selling tickets for Wesley’s Whale Watching Tours, guaranteed to see a whale. We bought tickets for the 9:30 AM excursion at $20 each. How could we lose? Also we located a B & B while at the restaurant. “They’re not home but it’s open so just go in a pick a suite. She’ll collect in the morning.”

Next morning we were at the dock at 8:45, which corresponded with the office opening. We were told that the trip would last 1 to 1½ hours but they needed at least four people to go and we were the only two so far.

We drove over to the seashore and Beth picked up an armload of rocks and driftwood which would need to be carried home. Another story!

When we returned to the dock, a young German couple and a couple from Calgary, Alberta had signed up. We now met quorum but lacked a captain. At 9:35 the captain and his son, the on-board guide, arrived in a 2000 Buick with no muffler and running on 4 or 5 cylinders. By this time, the Calgary lady had conned another couple into joining us, so we were up to eight.

What happened next was a circus the likes of which could only happen in old-time movies. To learn more, check out part two of this post.

Both crewmen made their way across the parking lot and the Buick left in a cloud of gravel. After several more minutes they were back still running at full speed, locked brakes and stopped almost a full foot short of the edge of the dock. It seemed the spare battery had been lent to another boat! But they had a battery charger.

They hooked up the charger, plugged it in to a shore terminal and waited. And waited.

A lot of minutes later the captain emerged to advise that there seemed to be a problem with the charger. He would have to go and get battery packs. Again the gravel flew!

Several minutes later back came the Buick, this time stopping a more discreet 2 to 3 feet from the brink. The captain emerged with two packs, either one of which would probably have started a motorcycle – but not a 350 John Deere. Each turned the motor over 2 to 3 times . . . v e r y s l o w l y. No joy!

Then someone had a brainwave. They would take the battery out of the shore manager’s Chevy and we would be away. Hot diggidy! Several minutes later they determined that none of their wrenches fit the clamp securing the battery to the Chevy. Again, no joy! For some reason, no one ever suggested taking the battery out of the Buick. Again a cloud of gravel!

After each setback, we had discussed giving up, getting our forty bucks back and trying again farther south. Each time we decided to wait for the next attempt as we REALLY WANTED TO SEE A WHALE. And that was guaranteed! Now we were advised that since it was already 10:45, there would be no time for our trip. We would have to wait for the 11:30 tour – but we would not be charged the extra $10 that tour normally cost. Big Whoop! But we decided to stick it out.

After several more minutes the Buick again sped up. This time the captain got out carrying a battery which he must have robbed from a VW bug. He optimistically carried it on board and into the engine room… and, wonder of wonders, within two minutes the old John Deere was purring like a tom cat. The eight of us hustled aboard and grabbed seats on the main deck.

As 11:30 approached, more and more passengers arrived. Finally, there were no more seats available and still people came. The guide came aboard and said that, because of the crowd, we original eight would be allowed to ride on the top deck. I thought this was somewhat of a mixed bag as, even though the sun was shining, the wind would still freeze spit. All the life jackets were on the ceiling of the lower deck and it would be a lot rougher up top. But Beth said “Great!” so up we went.

GOOD DECISION! The guide gave us rain ponchos which completely beat the wind and we had full, unobstructed 360 degree vision. Life jackets? No problem because … we didn’t sink. And rough seas, sea sickness? Don’t know, who thinks about a little rocking when they are looking for whales?

Finally, at 11:35, another car pulled up and a young lady sprinted to the boat. She had been roused from home at the last minute as they now had a two-deck crowd. We eight on the top deck had our own guide plus the captain, who moved to the topside controls once we were in whaley waters.

By 11:40 WE WERE OFF! On the way out we were treated to great views of Northern Gannets, but Beth and I were the only ones interested. We also saw several Grey Seals, which piqued everyone’s interest.

About a half hour out someone saw a water spout in the distance and off we went, full throttle. We were almost there when a Fin Whale surfaced dead ahead at about 200 yards. Wow! I realize that they are only the second largest mammal on the planet but it sure takes a long time for eighty feet of whale to go by. We followed along and pretty soon got a second look at him, at a distance of about 150 yards. Thank goodness for my Ultravid 8 x 42s.

Presently, a spout was sighted about a mile to the south and we were off again. We got there and “played the waiting game.” After a couple of misses, we got a look at this second Fin at a distance of about 100 yards.

We next headed toward a spout a half mile or so east, toward shore, but before we got there someone spotted something back to the north so we veered and were off again at full throttle. Once more, before we got all the way there, a whale surfaced; this a Minke, about 150 yards out. We cut engines and sat dead in the water, waiting. Suddenly, a Minke surfaced and blew, only 50 feet portside after having passed under the boat. Since Minkes don’t blow the big spout of water that Fins do, we didn’t get wet, but the noise sure raised everyone’s heart rate.

We travelled along at normal speed for fifteen minutes or so, and got decent looks at a couple more Minkes. We then headed north, presumably en route home, so Beth and I sat down to catch our breath. Suddenly, a couple of hundred yards portside, another huge Fin surfaced. Beth and I were the only ones to see it, but again it was a thrill.

All of a sudden we were among a school of Pilot Whales. They are large members of the dolphin family and play like dolphins. A line of five or more broke off and disappeared but ten stayed to entertain. They surfaced in unison, in sequence and in random. We cut through, around and in front of them. I thought we might be stressing them unduly but they did not seem very bothered and continued to play even as we were leaving.

We broke off and headed for port, arriving at 2:00 PM. We were out for more than 2 ¼ hours! The 1:30 trip had been rescheduled for 1:45, so if they refueled and loaded in 15 minutes, they would only be a half hour late! But I hope they enjoyed the same success that we did.

What a trip! We saw between 20 and 25 whales of three different species – many at a distance of less than 50 yards.

As a bonus, we were awarded 10% off coupons at the restaurant where we bought our tickets. We enjoyed seafood wraps with two of our new friends there before heading south to the mainland and ultimately home.

We highly recommend Wesley! (But bring your own battery.)

Added note: Good old Westjet Air got all of Beth’s stones and driftwood home at no extra cost.

We hadn’t heard anything about the Masked Duck that had been frequenting the place for the last couple of winters,so we didn’t expect it.  But we had hoped to see the Crested Caracara.  No joy!  Somewhat disappointing.  But we did have two really good sightings, a group of Horned Grebes and a Peregrine Falcon.

In all, we saw 62 species.  To see the full list as well as some photos, click the picture of the Loggerhead Shrike.

There is an interesting story in today’s Orlando Sentinel about three Ospreys that were tagged up North and met with disaster during their migration.  Richard O. “Rob” Bierregaard Jr., a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has tagged nearly 50 ospreys with satellite transmitters in the past decade, including one that was recently tracked until it plunged from the sky over a ranch in Seminole County. The bird’s body was decomposing by the time it was recovered from a pasture, and the cause of death may never be known, though Dr Bierregaard thinks it was most probably shot down.

Bierregaard and other scientists think that Florida may be the planet’s busiest osprey crossroads. Some of the birds breed in Maine and winter in Florida. Others breed in the Midwest, New England and Southeast and follow the length of Florida toward wintering places in South America‘s Amazon forests.

Other Ospreys are routinely shot if they stray near the ponds of fish farms in Cuba and Venezuela, or chicken flocks in theDominican Republic.

To read the full article and get some interesting information on Ospreys, click here.