Piping Plover by Miriam Avello
NOTE: This trip is FULL.
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South Florida is the winter home of the endangered Piping Plover. Come Fall these northern breeders make their way south to our Atlantic and Gulf beaches. Some of these plovers have been returning to the same beaches for several years. Crandon Park beach is a great location to observe Piping Plovers in winter and catch a glimpse of several banded birds that have made Crandon their winter home for many years. Because this walk is post the Winter Shorebird Survey we'll have information on where banded individuals were banded and how often they have been returning to our shores to winter.
In addition to Piping Plovers, there are several other wintering shorebirds such as the occasional Wilson's Plover, the rare Snowy Plover, Dunlin and several species of sandpipers, such as Spotted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Western Sandpiper.
Crandon is also the wintering home for Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull.
Other birds at the beach include Lesser Black-backed Gull, Royal Tern, Laughing Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet and if we're lucky there is a resident Reddish Egret and occasional Caspian Tern.
Beach Cleanup!
Following the bird walk, participants are invited to join a beach cleanup organized by Reclaimed Earth Wildlife, the Coral Gables-based non-profit dedicated to the conservation of endangered wildlife, focusing on species and habitat protection, repopulation, and medical care needs for critically endangered species in the wild, worldwide. Gloves will be provided. Let’s clean up Crandon. It’s good for birds and people, too!
DETAILS
WHAT: Bird Walk at Crandon Park with Phoebe Miriam Avello, for female nature buffs of any experience level.
WHEN: Sunday, March 5, 2023, 7-10 AM
WHERE: Crandon Park, 6747 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL. Use the south gate and head to the south end of the parking lot. We’ll meet in the parking lot. Please note that there is a $7 parking fee on weekends.
What to Pack: Hat, sunscreen, rain gear and binoculars. (If you don’t have binoculars, there will be some binoculars on loan on a first-come, first-served basis.)
BONUS: Join the Phoebes afterwards for a picnic at one of the park’s many beach-side tables. Please bring your favorite picnic bites to share!
QUESTIONS? Email Miriam Avello miriam.y.avello@gmail.com