The Lazy Naturalist

The Re-Enchantment of Nature - Sarasota, Florida

Birds Gallery

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Royal Terns (Thalasseus maximus) at North Lido

With its striking orange dagger of a bill and a shaggy black crest that looks perpetually windswept, the Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) is a quintessential fixture of Florida’s coastal landscapes. Second in size only to the Caspian Tern, this large, elegant seabird patrols the state’s beaches, estuaries, and salt marshes year-round, embodying the dynamic spirit […]

Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) at the Lower Lake

The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a striking, prehistoric-looking wading bird that serves as a vital indicator species for the health of Florida’s wetlands. Standing over three feet tall with a wingspan stretching more than five feet, it is the only species of stork that breeds natively in North America. Appearance and Unique Feeding StrategyAt […]

Five Coots

American coots (Fulica americana) are distinct from ducks. Members of the rail family, they have lobed toes rather than webbed feet, allowing swimming and walking across the marsh. Gregarious, they form large rafts, and defend using a repertoire of splashes and calls. A raft of five coots suggests that by staying anchored, working harmoniously with […]

Chickens in Key West

Chickens are protected in Key West, and there are a lot of them, crowing, walking through restaurants, and crossing the road. Don’t think about eating them!

White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Sarasota, FL

We saw a huge flock of white pelicans fly over yesterday, and I’ve been seeing them around for the past few weeks. My favorite is flocks of them in the water, corralling fish for the feast. I once saw over 800 together in the upper lake at Myakka.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) at Corkscrew Swamp

https://www.pictorem.com/2626082/bird-yellow-crowned-night-heron/ The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a masterful creature of the threshold—existing between daylight and darkness, water and land, the seen and the unseen. While its cousin, the Black-crowned Night Heron, is often associated with traditional folklore, the specific coloration and unique behavior of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron carry distinct esoteric correspondences. Sacred […]

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