American Avocet

Description:

Long slender black bill. White and black wings, blue legs and feet.. Thanks to Ava, I also found out they are often referred to as "blue shanks" due to the color of their legs and feet.

Habitat:

Was seen in the fresh water pools (brackish water) at St. Marks. I have never seen these shore birds before. American Avocet: Breeds from interior Washington, Saskatchewan, and Minnesota south to California and Texas. Winters on the west coast north to California, on the Gulf Coast, and in Florida. Is a regular fall visitor on the Atlantic coast. Preferred habitats include freshwater marshes and shallow, marshy lakes. Breeds locally in salt or brackish marshes; often moves to coasts in winter.

Notes:

According to this site, they only winter here in Florida - these must be late migraters http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/213/_/A... Interesting facts - from page above: INTERESTING FACTS In response to predators, they sometimes issues a series of call notes that gradually changes pitch, simulating the Doppler effect and thus making its approach seem faster than it actually is. Nesting American Avocets aggressively attack predators, sometimes physically striking Northern Harriers and Common Ravens. Their chicks leave the nest within 24 hours after hatching. Day-old avocets can walk, swim, and even dive to escape predators. Their nests are depressions on the sand or platforms of grass on mudflats. Should the water level rise, the breeding pair will raise the nest up to a foot or more with sticks, weeds, bones and feathers to keep the eggs above water.