Shorebird

inevitably means the Caloosahatchee will be receiving damaging releases from the lake at some point this year.”

The SCCF reported that after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole and limited releases made during the dry season, it and west coast stakeholders remain concerned about the conditions

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They are able to walk within hours of hatching, but will stay in their nest for a few days

“After about two weeks, their downy fluff is replaced with light brown or gray, scaly feathers, and they are much more mobile,” shorebird intern Jessie Macaluso said “They often venture outside of posted nesting areas, so if you’re near a colony, watch your step ”

Three to four weeks after hatching, least tern chicks are able to fly in short bursts, and their body shape more closely resembles that of an adult At more than 4 weeks old, juveniles can be distinguished from younger fledglings by the black stripe running through their eyes and around the back of their head These juveniles are also identifiable by being more adept flyers

When these non-reproducing adult birds that fledged the year prior enter their second year, they look similar to fledglings, but have smooth back feathers, and the black feathers around the eye do not extend to the bill.

For a more detailed guide on least tern chicks, visit https://flshorebirdalliance org /media/1058/aging-least-tern-chicks pdf

Snowy plover chicks

Snowy plover chicks also start out sand-colored and speckled, but unlike least tern chicks, they waste no time staying put in the nest You may see them running about on their disproportionately long legs hours after they hatch

“This notable difference is because snowy plover chicks are precocial; they’re born in an advanced stage of development and are able to forage for their own food,” shorebird technician Aaron White said “Least tern chicks are altricial, which means they still rely on their parents for food until they are able to fly and feed themselves ”

A f t e r t w o w e e k s , s n o w y p l o v e r c h i c k s a r e l e s s “ f u z z y ” a n d m o r e “ s c r u f f y ” a s t h e i r p r i m a r y f e a t h e r s s t a r t t o c o m e i n T h e y b e c o m e m o r e a d v e nt u r o u s , l e a v i n g t h e d u n e h a b i t a t t o e x p l o r e t h e s h o r e l i n e

After four to six weeks of development, the chicks look like slightly smaller, skinnier versions of their parents, minus the bold breeding plumage exhibited by mature adults. At this point, they are flight-capable and may be seen flying with their parents or siblings before venturing out on their own

For a more detailed guide on snowy plover chicks, visit https://flshorebirdall i a n c e o r g / m e d i a / 1 2 0 4 / 2 0 1 9 - s n o w yplover-chick-aging-guide pdf