Babies on the beach

Well,  the two remaining Wilson's Plover chicks are doing alright so far.  See.

The little one on the left is tiny and has a little limp but that don't stop it.  I watched it catch wharf crabs and insects.
Further down the beach Ruddy Turnstones were enjoying a cash of horseshoe crab eggs. A couple of other shorebirds were waiting to jump into the feast.

I was able to show one Jekyll 4-H class  the Ruddy Turnstone's feast.

Just a little discussion about who get to eat.

 Another 4 H class was able to see the chicks.

 Life on the beach is good this morning.

 

The horseshoe crabs are coming up on the beach to lay their eggs.

Great to see them at this time of year. 

  They create wonderful designs in the sand. 

It a boy!!!!!

Today, I spent the day with the crew from William & Mary, Georgia Department of Nature Resourses.  We were out to put a transmitter on a  Whimbrel. This hard working  team worked through the day to catch a Whimbrel.  So at the end of the day when the rest of the flock flew away.  One stayed.   It was caught. 

 Brad Winn and Robert Heran walked in with the bird.   We held out breath.  Was it big enough to carry a transmiter.  It was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Then these hard working scientist went into overdrive.  The tranmiter was careful put on then the bird was check.  He was good to go

He was released.  He flew east toward the full moon and then north to Egg Island Bar.  The first step is complete.  We now have one more ambassador to the Whimbrel and shorebird world.
More news to come.

Purple Gallinule at Jekyll's Amphitheater Pond

There was such a heartfelt out pouring of sadness to the total lost of the Amphitheater Wood Stork's Rookery last week.  Our whole area has been under a draught for several years.  This lake behind the old Amphitheater on Jekyll is down about 12 feet.  This left the nesting herons and egrets vulnerable to Raccoon raids because the alligators were to far away from the trees.  All the nests on the lake are now gone.

Another sign that the lake is very low, there has been a Purple Gallinule feeding on the plants around the edge of the lake.  Today after a call from John Galvani,  we rushed over to see this neat bird.   It great to have a great network of birders in the area. Thanks John.