By Dr. Robert Norman, Clinical Professor, Dermatology, Nova Southeastern University
One of the great long distance migrating birds is the red knot. It is a medium size shorebird that sports rusty, red breeding plumage, and a winter plumage of gray and white. After it breeds in a large area of the high Arctic, it migrates all the way down to the southern tip of South America for the winter.
The red knots make stops at Delaware Bay along the New Jersey coast to feed and rest. And many of these birds continue to the western side of Florida, where they spend the winter around the Gulf of Mexico. I have seen these wonderful birds at Fort De Soto Park.
Others leave Delaware Bay to take a long flight over the Atlantic Ocean to reach the eastern coast of South America in Brazil. Here they feed and rest and continue on to South America’s southern tip of Tierra del Fuego to spend the winter. They travel more than 9000 miles one way during migration.
On the return trip, red knots leave from their winter home all the way from Tierra del Fuego and thousands arrive in Delaware Bay during May. Many are starving and often half the weight they were when they departed. The arrival in Delaware Bay coincides with the annual horseshoe crabs spawning in the Bay. Red knots are dependent on horseshoe crab eggs.
The red knot — horseshoe crab interaction highlights the interdependence in nature. Red knot populations are decreasing, perhaps due to the decline of horseshoe crabs. Over the last 40 years red knots have gone from 82,000 birds to fewer than 30,000.
As the year reaches its end, bird migration reaches its peak. Some places see more birds than they did in spring. Florida may be the ideal place for birdwatching during the fall since it welcomes a large variety of migratory birds. (Bird Sphere)
Fall migration begins in late July and continues through winter as many birds either return to Florida or come to seek refuge from the harsh weather. Migratory birds in Florida include the Sandhill Crane, Cedar Waxwing, Anhinga, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Gull-Billed Tern, American Redstart, Swallow-Tailed Kite and Red-Eyed Vireo.
The Sandhill Crane is famous for its long neck and red beak. The species can be seen in Florida all year round. However, during the fall season, Florida hosts the Greater Sandhill Crane in huge numbers. The Greater Sandhill Crane is a larger subspecies of the Sandhill Crane. Up to 25,000 of them fly towards Florida to seek refuge in the winters. When you see them in flight, it is truly a mesmerizing sight. They fly in large flocks, and their distinct calling voices can be heard from over a mile.
Where can see these wonderful birds?
Get out into The Great Florida Outdoors!
Dr. Norman is an advanced master naturalist graduate of the FMNP program from UF and a board-certified dermatologist based in Tampa and Riverview. He can be reached at 813-880-7546.
70 books (series editor of 39) ● 300+ articles ● 150 Lectures and Blogs
45 videos and films ● 18 photo calendars and exhibits ● 4 music CDs
Tampa Bay Medical Hero Award (2008)
● Hadassah Humanitarian Award (2012)
To order books click on these links:
Trade (Popular) Books
Clinical Books
Instructional Books
Read more of Dr. Norman’s articles here. https://dunndealpublications.com/dr-robert-normans-articles/