Something New Every Day

9. January 2009 by Capt. Tommy.

It happened again on Tuesday! I saw something I have never seen. Whooper are very territorial and typically a pair with a juvenile will not tolerate other adult birds  around the family. When we saw three birds in the distance when we entered the refuge I began my bit about sub adults and how when you see more than two adults hanging out they were sure to be sub adults. As we got closer I noticed the juvenile with the group and much to my surprise they were a family and a sub adult bird prowling the shoreline. We watch awhile and the male bird with a red and silver band found a dead fish on the beach.

He picked at the fish for a bit when the sub adult came over to see if he could get in on the action. The banded bird would drop the fish and rush him and the sub adult  would back off. This went on a few times and the banded bird lost interest in the fish and moved away so the sub adult ran over and picked up the fish. Well that got the banded bird all worked up and he started chasing the fish grabber. When the banded bird would ease up the sub adult would start to eat the fish and the banded bird would rush him again. They moved about a hundred yards down the beach while the whooper mom and chick looked on. Finally the sub adult gave up and so did the banded bird and they both moved back toward the family and all four birds worked their way down the beach. VERY STRANGE!

We are still getting great looks at the white Great Blue Heron in Carlos Bay and picking up 40 to 50 species on each trip. Our weather finally broke and we have had a couple of glorious days.

Good birding!

Capt Tommy

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