No Longer a Myth...

By: Carolina Labro, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Years of scientific research have discovered that animals use tools not only to find food, but also to build nests, for defense and even to enhance comfort. They have discovered that the use of tools does not imply special intelligence, as it was commonly believed, but in some species is a process of simple learning by associations in the environments, acquired by observing other animals. In other cases, it is due to genetic programming or instinct. 

Below are some interesting examples:

  • Several species of Herons have shown a behavior called “bait fishing”. They pick a morsel of food, a small piece of bread or even a small stick with their beak and place it in the water to attract fish. ( American Fish Crows have shown this behavior as well)

  • Burrowing Owls accessorized their homes with dung from nearby animals like horses and dogs to attract dung beetles (not exactly a tool but very clever!)

  • Weaver ants use their larvae to produce silk that glues together the leaves from which they wave their nests. 

  • The Bolas Spider makes a ball from the same silk it uses to spin a web. When an insect flies by, they throw it and it attaches to the insect because it's sticky and they reel them in. 

  • The Brown-headed Nuthatch uses its beak to break off bits of wood then uses it as a tool to pry up tree bark and expose the insects hiding beneath. 

  • The Sea Otter will strike mollusk shells against rocks to get at the food inside.

  • Octopuses have been observed carrying around coconut shells to hide in and turning them into instant shelters to protect from predators.

Nature is full of interesting creatures!

A Brown-headed Nuthatch with a fresh meal

A Black-crowned Night Heron “bait fishing”

Keeping Your Dog and Our Wildlife Safe!

Written by: Meredith Molinari, Wildlife Intern

With the weather in Miami finally cooling down a bit, it’s a great time to enjoy some outdoor fun with your furry family member. Picture this. You and your pup are having fun playing fetch in the park when suddenly, they spot something more interesting than that tennis ball. They dart away from you, and before you can yell stop, they have a small feathery or furry creature in their mouth. Oh-no! 

In my time as an intern with Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, I have seen numerous opossums and birds come in with wounds resulting from a dog attack. It is not the dog’s fault. Although they are domesticated animals, they still have wild instincts. As we are lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing wildlife here in South Florida, it is our job as dog owners to keep both our pets and our native wildlife safe. 

As the owner of three dogs, I know how necessary it is for dogs to get outside and run off some energy. It is important for both their physical and mental health. Since not everyone has access to a fenced-in backyard, local parks are a great option. 

Here are some easy safety tips to follow when taking your dog to the park: 

  1. Always check park regulations. Many county parks in Miami-Dade do not allow dogs. While this might be annoying to dog owners. It is often for the benefit of the surrounding wildlife. Dogs can easily disturb ground nesting sites. The presence of dogs can cause serious anxiety in prey animals and disrupt their breeding and migratory behavior. 

  2. If dogs are allowed in the park, follow posted leash laws. Always keep your dog on-leash. No matter how good you believe your dog’s recall is, instinctive behavior is hard to break when their prey drive is heightened.  A leash of no more than 6 feet in length is best. This gives the dog space to walk while keeping them close enough, should you need to remove them from an area quickly. Carry high-reward treats in your pocket or bag while leash-walking in the park. This way you can redirect your dog’s attention if they focus on a smaller prey animal. 

  3. The best park option is a dog-friendly park or off-leash “Bark Park.” These parks are specifically designed with dogs in mind. They are placed in park locations away from wild areas limiting interaction with the native species. You can find links to dog-friendly parks at the end of this post. 

What about at home? Wildlife often appears in our own backyard. These tips ensure your dog, and our native wildlife can peacefully coexist. 

  1. Never leave food outside unattended. Especially overnight. Until I began interning at Pelican Harbor, I had no idea what a tasty treat pet food is to opossums. They absolutely love it. By leaving food out during the day for your dog to munch on, you might be unintentionally inviting opossums into your yard after dark. Always dispose of uneaten pet food in trash cans with secure lids.

  2. Think carefully about where to place your birdbath and feeders. I love having a bird feeder in my yard where I can admire the Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, and Northern Cardinals that stop by and visit. Position your bird feeder in an area of the yard that your dog cannot easily reach. Remember, squirrels love bird feeders too, and can be easy prey for dogs. Keep the area below the feeder clean. Do not allow your dog to ingest bird seed or bird droppings that accumulate below the feeder, as they may contain bacteria that will make your dog sick.

  3. Make sure your dog is up to date on all their vaccinations. This is the best preventative step you can take for your dog’s health. 

Even if you follow all these precautions, accidents can happen. If your dog attacks native wildlife, Pelican Harbor Seabird Station is here to help. They have multiple resources on their website for your benefit. Start with their page: “what to do if you found an injured animal”

Play safe outdoors and take your pup to a dog-friendly park or off-leash Bark Park! My favorite is at Tropical Park. It has two separate areas for large and small breed dogs. Hopefully, my energetic goldendoodle and I will see you and your furry bestie there some Saturday morning.

Check out: Dog Friendly parks in Miami-Dade County. 

Photo Descriptions & Sources

Nature's Boxy Girl

Written By:  Carolina Labro, Wildlife Rehabilitator 

 

About a year ago, as I was going out to my backyard in the morning, I saw a little turtle resting on the mat outside the sliding door. I was astonished to find this little creature there. I approached her to examine her more closely, thinking to myself, “Why are you here?” And I noticed that it was munching on a worm! As soon as I picked her up, she retracted into her perfectly tight sealed box. After getting her checked out by a wildlife veterinarian, it was confirmed that she was a young female Florida Box Turtle and most likely in the middle of breakfast when I found her. 

I brought her back and placed her near the bushes at the back of my house, where she raced back into hiding. I still see her from time to time, having a feast on a type of rounded leaf moss in the corners of my garden. On rainy days she goes after every earthworm scattered over the patio, and I’ve even spied on her enjoying a good soak in a small puddle of water. When I don’t see her for a while, I imagine her embarking on one of her adventurous voyages around the garden, exploring and enjoying herself. 

I’m so delighted that a Box Turtle has decided to make my backyard her home, and we invite you to go outside and take a look around to appreciate the uniqueness and diversity of nature. You will not be disappointed! 

Fun Facts:

  • Box turtles generally live for 25-35 years but have been known to survive to over 100 years old!

  • Box turtles have a great internal GPS and even use the stars to help them navigate

  • Eastern Box turtles are homeowners of 2 or more residences that serve them as nesting sites, summer or overwintering vacation destinations!

  • Box Turtle hatchlings are born with an external yolk sac that provides the hatchlings with nourishment during its first days of life. This allows them to be completely independent from parental care!

  • They are omnivores! They love earthworms, snails, slugs and a wide variety of plants.

  • Besides using visual cues, Box Turtles have a highly developed sense of smell that helps them with recognizing potential love interests or even intruders!

Bird Watcher's Guide to the Beautiful and Strange Birds of Florida Beaches

Written By: Zach Norton

Florida’s stretches of pristine beaches attract vacationers from around the globe. People flock here to see the clean sand, blue water, and bright orange sun. But long before tourists discovered Florida's sands, others flocked here — birds.

The Florida beaches are home to countless bird species that come here to feed, breed, and escape predators. Let's look at some beautiful and strange birds that call the Florida beaches home.

1. Greater Flamingo

Image by HGU Foto on Shutterstock

When people think about Florida and birds, usually the first species that comes to mind is the Greater Flamingo.

There has been some debate about whether greater flamingos are native to the Sunshine State. Regardless of their origin, flamingos have become synonymous with Florida. With their long legs, vivid pink colors, and black-tipped beaks, they are as recognizable as oranges.

 2. Brown Pelican

Image by Brian Lasenby on Shutterstock

The bird species that’s perhaps second most frequently associated with Florida is the Brown Pelican. Although maybe not as graceful and elegant as the Greater Flamingo, they are nonetheless an excellent example of Florida's abundant bird life.

Their large, stocky body and enormous bill can be almost comical in appearance. When observed on land, the Brown Pelican is a bit of a comedian as it waddles about looking for scraps or bait from local anglers. However, the pelican is quite graceful when it takes to the air.

3. Roseate Spoonbill

Image by Harry Collins Photography on Shutterstock

Our next species is often confused with the flamingo, but the Roseate Spoonbill is one of a kind.

Like the flamingo, the spoonbill sports vivid pink plumage atop long legs perfect for wading. However, instead of a curved bill and pink head, the spoonbill has a white head and a distinctive spoon-shaped bill.

This stunning example of Florida wildlife spends almost all its time searching the waters and wetlands for its next meal. You will need to be quick and silent if you wish to spot one on your own, as they are timid.

4. Oystercatcher

Image by Archaeopteryx Tours on Shutterstock

The oystercatcher has more to offer than a catchy name. It’s also an eye-catching example of what can be found on the local beaches.

Although the white belly and black body resemble many other birds in the area, the long red bill sets it apart. Coupled with equally catching legs and deep red eyes, the oystercatcher will surely capture some beachgoers along with its next oyster dinner.

5. Laughing Gull

Image by Brian Lasenby on Shutterstock

A gull may not seem a likely candidate for a list of beautiful birds, but the Laughing Gull is a lovely exception. Its black head and bright red beak make it stand out among its peers.

But don’t let its good looks fool you! The Laughing Gull, so named because its call resembles a mocking laugh, is full of mischief. Just as its beauty takes you in, it will swoop down, land on a rail or your boat ladder, and wait for a chance to take an unattended lunch.

6. Black-Bellied Plover

Image by ​​Elliotte Rusty Harold on Shutterstock

As America's largest plover, the Black-bellied Plover is on many bird watchers' lists. If you keep an eye out for it, you may glimpse one of Florida's most stunning species.

With a black face, chest, and belly, and white plumage topped by a gray speckled crown, the Black-bellied Plover is genuinely stunning.

7. Long-Billed Dowitcher

Image by Eivor Kuchta on Shutterstock

The Long-billed Dowitcher, characterized by its long, thin bill and trim gray or light brown speckled body, immediately makes observers think "shorebird." Countless paintings and carvings depict this bird, even by artists who have never seen it in person.

Although similar to its smaller cousin, the Short-billed Dowitcher, this species is easily identified by its unique "peet-peet-ter-wee-too" sound as it rapidly probes the sand for food.

8. Snowy Egret

Image by A. Michael Brown on Shutterstock

The Snowy Egret is the royalty of the seashore. It’s one of Florida's larger sea birds and has a body similar to a heron. With eye-catching white plumage and contrasting jet-black legs and yellow feet, the snowy egret is also one of the most stunning.

While its stunning plumage was almost its downfall due to high demand in the hat trade, the snowy egret has rebounded. Seeing one in the wild is a breathtaking experience.

9. Black-Necked Stilt

Image by Jim Schwabel on Shutterstock

As the word “stilt” in its name suggests, the Black-necked Stilt's most prominent feature is its long legs. Like many beach species, the body combines light and dark. It has a black head, wings, and beak with a white underside and gray tail feathers.

Keep an eye on the shoreline, and you will see the Black-necked Stilt patrolling the shallows and plucking small fish from the water. Afterward, they will head home to nearby nests built of beach debris.

10. Sanderling

Image by Paul Reeves Photography on Shutterstock

Sanderlings are another iconic Florida species. You’ve likely seen them on the beach, but you may not have known what they were called. The black bill, eyes, and tiny black legs stand out against the gray-colored bodies and the surrounding sand.

Like many human residents, the sanderling spends only part of the time in the Sunshine State. After breeding in the High Arctic Tundra, they head south for warmer weather, making them among the furthest yearly commuters.

11. Royal Tern

Image by Agami Photo Agency on Shutterstock

Often mistaken for a gull, the Royal Tern is distinguished by its completely orange beak. Add a white body and black feathers atop its head, and you have another stunning example of what Florida offers bird watchers.

While you’ll likely see the royal tern wading or walking along the sandy shores, the real show is when they take to the air. They seem to hover motionless as they try to spot their prey, only to dive almost effortlessly to catch it.

12. Black Skimmer

Image by anto1977 on Shutterstock

Most beachgoers have witnessed the black skimmer, even if they didn’t realize it. The long wingspan, black body, and white underbelly bird can be seen cruising low over area waters in search of an easy meal.

Next time you are at the beach and see such a bird, look closely at its bill. A slim lower mandible that extends beyond the upper will distinguish the black skimmer from other beach birds.

Although these are some of Florida's most stunning and iconic beach birds, there are others you are likely to spot. Florida is home to over 18 beach-dwelling species that may cross your path. So be sure to have your binoculars close as you never know what you might spot cruising the local waters.

Keep Our Wildlife Wild!

Written by: Amanda Burke, Wildlife Rehabilitator & Intern Coordinator

X-Ray of Patient# 1683’s right wing fracture

In September 2021, a Brown Pelican was admitted to Pelican Harbor with a fractured humerus bone in its right wing. Orthopedic surgery was performed where multiple pins were placed in cross sections across the bone to stabilize the fracture and enable the bones to fuse properly. In addition to the pins, an external fixator device was also placed at the site. This involves a piece of acrylic encased in a tube that is placed on the outside of the wing to keep the pins in place and limit rotation so the bone heals properly. This type of surgery is a huge undertaking for wounded animals, as the stress of going under anesthesia for long periods of time can cause adverse reactions. Thankfully, patient  #21-1683 made it through the surgery successfully. What followed was 6 months of hard work on the part of not just the rehab team but the pelican himself. Every day he received physical therapy and medications to aid in his healing. We had to ensure he would have a full range of motion in his wing so that he could fly, hunt for food, and most importantly, live and thrive on his own in the wild.

X-Ray of Patient# 1683’s external fixator device

In March 2022, 6 months after its initial intake, release day finally came for our pelican. He had completed his physical therapy and proved to us he could fly and hunt on his own despite a persistent but benign wing droop. This is the happiest day for our rehabilitation team because it’s the culmination of all our worry and hard work. Undoubtedly, it’s the best day for the animal too! He was released with another pelican on our property here in Miami, where they flew off together, and we considered it another successful release. 

However, over the next couple of months, we got numerous calls from people worried that the pelican was unable to fly due to his wing droop. After some time monitoring him and multiple visits to the jetty, it was determined that he was not thriving in the wild due to consistent human intervention and he was brought back to PHSS for further evaluation. We decided to relocate him to an area that would not have the amount of human interaction he had in his previous release area.

Patient# 1683 with injured right wing

 Then, we started getting calls about Facebook videos being posted of people interacting with him in various ways around the Haulover Jetty area–touching him, petting him, feeding him fish, and attempting to “help” him even though he was more than capable of taking care of himself. Despite numerous attempts of release at different locations, the pelican kept returning to the Haulover Jetty, where he had seemingly become irreversibly accustomed to being fed by humans. Because of this, he was deemed unreleasable by our veterinarians and had to be permanently placed at a sanctuary, where he will live out the rest of his life in captivity. 

Please remember when you see a wild animal, they are just that– wild. Always be sure to keep your distance, and never feed wildlife. In order to thrive and survive, they need to keep their wild instincts. When animals become habituated to humans, they no longer want to look for their own food and instead spend their time in heavily populated areas. In the case of pelicans specifically, when they start to see humans as a source of food, they end up getting hooked because they hang out in fishing areas. This results in various injuries and entanglement, sometimes ingesting the hooks themselves which can ultimately result in death. Additionally, people feed them food that isn’t meant for them which can get stuck in their throat or make its way to their stomach where it then destroys their intestinal tract because it is too big for what their bodies are supposed to eat.

The best way to be a friend to wild animals is to stay as far away as possible and let them live their lives without our influence. As always, refrain from feeding, holding, or petting wild animals, no matter how friendly they may seem. 

Got milk?...not so fast!

Written by: Carolina Labro, Wildlife Rehabilitator

We all know that milk is a critical component of nutrition for any wild baby mammal's healthy growth, development, and survival. It supplies essential fats, proteins, antibodies, vitamins, and minerals to the neonate during a very important part of its life. But did you know that there are two crucial aspects of milk when raising orphan babies? 

They are Components and Compositions. 

Milk has six major components: water, fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. However, its composition differs widely from species to species. This difference is closely associated with an animal’s environment, diet, and life history, and is why it is so important never to attempt to bottle feed any orphaned wildlife you may find. 

Herbivorous species produce milk lower in fat and protein concentrations due to a diet based on plants and grass. Conversely, omnivorous species produce milk high in fat and protein as a result of animal matter contained in their diet. 

The only component that is equal in composition in all types of mammal milk is colostrum, or “the first milk” secreted by nursing mothers. Colostrum is extremely high in immunoglobulins (antibodies) and provides the newborn with immunity to fight gastrointestinal tract infections as it grows. 

During the course of lactation, the composition of a mammal’s milk will change drastically to meet the nutritional needs of each developmental stage. For example, a baby Grey Squirrel weighing 45 grams requires a formula with a high fat to low protein ratio. When the same Grey Squirrel reaches 75g, it now requires a formula low in protein and high in fat. Similarly, Virginia Opossums weighing less than 45g require a formula with a medium protein to high-fat ratio, but when they exceed 45g, they require a formula with low protein to medium fat levels.

Although there is no perfect substitute for natural milk, there are specially formulated wildlife milk substitutes based on the analysis of the species' natural milk.  When feeding an orphaned wild baby, it is important to know that the wrong formula will cause delayed growth in size, sparse fur, muscle weakness, bone abnormalities, lack of tooth development, and even death. This is due to their immature GI tract being unable to process milk with inappropriate compositions. Products that do not provide adequate nutrition for wildlife include cow’s milk, evaporated milk, human infant formula, plant-based milks, and any homemade recipe. 

Knowledge of the specific nutritional requirements of orphan wild babies is vital to support healthy growth and to increase the chance of releasing an animal that can survive in the wild. If you ever come across a wild baby mammal, be sure to bring it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible!

Butterflies on a Budget - How to cultivate a native butterfly garden for next to free 

Written by: Samantha Martinez, Environmental Educator

Not only are butterflies one of nature's most diverse, colorful, and elegant species, but they are also great pollinators. While not as effective as bees or wasps at diligently pollinating plants quickly one after another, butterflies take a more leisurely approach to pollination which helps these plants in a different but no less important way. Since butterflies don’t have responsibilities to a hive like bees, they can feel free to take their time drinking the nectar of different plants and wait a while, and travel quite a bit before landing on another one. This may seem inefficient, but pollen has been shown to stay fresh on the tongues and legs of butterflies longer than they would on other surfaces or in the air. Plus, the fact that butterflies travel far before landing on another flower means that the plants they pollinate will have a different DNA profile than the last plant they were on. Meaning that the plants they pollinate will be cross-pollinated and have a more diverse DNA profile, leading to an overall healthier plant population. 

That being said, how can we attract these prepossessing pollinators to our homes without introducing invasive plants or breaking the bank? Today we’ll go over some of the easiest, and cheapest ways to create a beautiful, eco-friendly butterfly garden. 

Make a Garden Bed 

Raised garden beds are often more productive than planting your plants straight in the ground since the soil is not as compacted and has better drainage. This may seem like something difficult and unattainable on certain budgets or with certain time restraints, but this can be a very easy and inexpensive process. Here are some materials that you can use to create your raised bed and where you can find them. 

  1. Cinder Blocks make for great fencing for your garden. If you don’t already have some laying around your property or neighborhood, you can often find them for free on apps like Offer-Up where people are just looking to get them removed from their backyards. You can either stack the blocks to whatever height and width you want for your garden without any adhesive, or if you want to secure your cinderblocks to one another, you can find cheap outdoor cement on Amazon.

  2. Bricks are another material that you can usually find for very cheap on Offer Up or by asking local construction sites if they have any materials similar that are being thrown away. Construction sites will usually be happy to let you take leftover materials as they have to pay for their  removal anyway. This is another material you may want to secure with the outdoor concrete mentioned above. 

  3. Wood from pallets - We have all seen wooden pallets being thrown out on the side of the road. This material need not go to waste, though not the best quality wood this would absolutely work for a raised bed frame.  This technique may take more tools depending on the style of raised bed you would like. Many youtube videos and articles can be found on how to assemble this easily online, like this one here. 

Cinder Block Raised bed. Thank you to Bonnie's Plants for this photo 

Raised bed made from pallet wood. Thank you to 99pallets.com for this photo

Line Your Garden Bed

A lining for your garden bed is important to prevent plants you are not trying to grow from taking advantage of the bed you have created.

  1. Newspapers can be a cheap or free option for your lining. Though it will eventually decompose you can prolong its use by layering quite a few papers at the bottom of your raised bed. Plus once it does decompose it will add carbon to your soil which will be beneficial for your plants. Though some may be worried about the inc getting into your soil, newspaper inc is made of soy and therefore will not negatively affect your soil or your plants. 

  2. Cardboard is also a readily available material that can be used to line your garden bed. Though it will also decompose within 6 months you can prolong this by putting multiple layers of cardboard just like with the newspaper option. You can pretty much use any type of cardboard except for any with a waxy coating like those used for cereal boxes. This kind will leak toxins into the soil and eventually into your plants. 

  3. Leaves are another great option, any leaves you can find to provide a thick layered covering. It may even take longer for these to biodegrade than cardboard, holding out for about 6 months to a year. Once they do decompose you will have added quite a bit of organic nutrients to your soil. 

  4. Nothing - You can always decide to not use any covering for the base of your raised bed. You may have to watch out more vigilantly for stray plants but it is completely doable to keep up your raised garden without a base barrier. 

Soil 

Soil may be the one ingredient for your garden that you have to buy, since digging up a giant hole from your backyard may be inconvenient later on. Plus a lot of the soil in south florida unfortunately doesn’t harbor the nutrients needed to grow a healthy garden. Luckily, bags of soil can be found at essentially any hardware store or gardening center for, dare I say, dirt cheap.  

The Plants! 

Now off to the very exciting part, planting the plants in your garden! Below is a list of native plants, or plants with low invasion risk that can either be propagated from plants around South Florida or whose seeds can be collected from a few organizations down here and will be sure to attract some beautiful butterflies and other pollinators to your garden! 

  1. Firespike - Firespike is a lovely, Florida native, addition to your garden that will help attract several species of butterflies and perhaps even hummingbirds! 

  2. Firebush - This native plant will attract some butterflies and hummingbirds for its nectar. It will also produce some small berries that will be enjoyed by birds and small mammals in your neighborhood! 

  3. Blue Porterweed - Yet another Florida native, this plant is a host plant for tropical buckeye butterflies but will attract other species of butterfly, as well as bees to your garden! 

  4. Orange Milkweed ( Asclepias Tuberosa) - Milkweed is a well-known butterfly attractor and host plant. This species of milkweed is also a Florida native and will help attract butterflies, bees and other insects to your home! 

  5. Passion Flower - This beautiful plant is known to attract honey bees, carpenter bees and  Gulf Fritillary butterflies! Like many of the other plants on this list it is also a beautiful flowering plant to be admired all on its own.

  6. Bahama Cassia - This plant is known for attracting butterflies of the Sulfur species. It is used as a food source for both adult butterflies and larvae. 


There are many other Florida native, or low invasion risk plants you can use to enrich your butterfly garden. Many can be found in small nurseries for a very low cost or you can reach out to organizations such as The Miami Seeds Share and others for seed donations they have available. I hope this article has helped you find it more realistic to create a beautiful butterfly garden with plants that will help augment the habitat that is your yard for you and the creatures you share it with! Happy gardening everyone! 

A Home for the Fish and the Feathered

Written by: Samantha Martinez, Environmental Educator

Biscayne Bay is known for its beauty, calming atmosphere, and views of the islands and city weather that view is from a kayak or a yacht. People from all over the Miami area enjoy the recreational activities that the bay makes possible. Here at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, we receive hundreds of wading and seabirds annually, more so than any other group of avians. This is in no small part due to the kind-hearted people who choose to bring in injured or ill wildlife they discover on their outings. Without the eyes and ears of these good samaritans, many of these animals would not make their way into care. 

An adult and a juvenile Magnificent Frigate Bird roosting on an Island in Biscayne Bay

Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the impact of  our proximity to Biscayne Bay. There are many ways in which our society unintentionally brings harm to our local environment, but luckily there are even more ways that we can make small changes in our lives to help repair it. For example, adopting safe fishing and boating practices, like casting with care and disposing of hook and line properly, helps to prevent wildlife injury and entanglement. If you ever do find a bird on the other side of your fishing line, you can always reel them in and contact Pelican Harbor Seabird Station to get them into care. You can also reduce chemical runoff by planting native plants in your yard and using natural herbicides. Additionally, you can reduce your plastic consumption, avoid littering, use reef-safe sunscreens and so much more! These small, seemingly insignificant actions, together, make such a big impact on our environment and with a little knowledge and a bit of motivation, Biscayne Bay can once again be the thriving, rich environment it is meant to be.

Each organism within the bay, from newly hatched crustaceans to the bottlenose dolphin, plays a role in which there is no understudy. So before we enjoy our weekend on the water, let us all take a moment to appreciate the tremendous importance of this ecosystem and what we can do to help preserve it and the animals, including us, who rely on it. 

Our Valuable Vultures

Written by: Lucy Wiedmar, PHSS Intern

We’ve all seen it - the ominous collection of large birds gliding high in the sky, seemingly flying in circles around a concentrated area. Often thought to signal that death is near, you ask yourself what the unlucky soul had to endure. The soaring birds in the distance, flying in their ritualistic circles, cruising the wind currents, are most likely members of the new world vulture family.

Florida is home to two native species of vultures, the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura). Both vulture species are in the taxonomic order Accipitriformes (which includes most diurnal birds of prey), and the family Carthartidae (consisting of five new world vulture species.) These two species can be differentiated by the distinct difference in head coloration, with black vultures having a solid black coloration on the head and bill, whilst the turkey vulture differs in a red/pink coloration of the head and a white-toned bill. While in the air, these two vultures can be identified by the difference in flight patterns observed among the two. The black vulture has a much more compact body with a shorter tail, a whitish patch on the outer primaries, and displays a powerful and sturdy 3-5 wing flap pattern. The turkey vulture on the other hand has a greater white-silver coloration along the lower border of their wingspan and tends to teeter while in flight, displaying significantly fewer wing flaps. 

 

Adult Black Vulture feeding her fledgling.

Adult Turkey Vulture rescued by PHSS volunteers.

 

Although turkey vultures currently outnumber their black vulture relatives in the United States, black vultures have a greatly expansive native range, outnumbering turkey vultures in the western hemisphere. Year round, black vultures can be located across virtually all of the South American continent up to the southern and eastern United States. Over the past few decades, black vultures have crept their way even further northward - as far north as New England. Turkey vultures have a similar native range, found essentially across all of the South American continent, as well as encompassing almost the entirety of the United States.

While these two species of vultures differ in many aspects, they are very similar in one main regard: their choice of prey - which happens to be most prominently the carcasses of the once living. Due to vultures' feeding behavior relying mainly on carrion, they tend to be associated with negative connotations in the media and are often portrayed in a more “sinister” light, often being depicted as unhygienic or a precursor to death. Even Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, once called the birds “disgusting creatures”. Vultures get a bad rep in the Animal Kingdom, and due to the unwarranted stereotypes placed upon them, there are a lot of misconceptions floating around these birds.

However, I am here to defend the honor of our native vultures! Contrary to the stigmatization of vultures bringing along the notion of death with their presence, they actually play a crucial role in the health and stabilization of their ecosystems. Vultures play an incredibly important role by devouring decaying carcasses. By consuming flesh from the recently deceased, vultures are able to reduce and/or eliminate the spread of certain diseases, pathogens, and harmful bacteria that depend on rotting flesh to grow, develop, and spread. Some of the illnesses prevented by vultures' ecological role are anthrax, rabies, and cholera. Additionally, vultures' diet on carrion further facilitates nutrient cycling by maintaining high fertility among soils for plants to flourish, keeping the overall primary producers of our ecosystems healthy and thriving. 

Because vultures are known “ground nesters”, they prefer to lay their eggs and raise their young in locations such as dark crevices, caves, hollow trees/fallen logs, abandoned buildings, brush piles, etc. Due to these nesting locations being significantly different than the depicted nesting behavior we see in many other birds (ie. collection of sticks, twigs, and leaves in high, out-of-reach areas), people may stumble across a clutch of young vultures and mistakenly believe they have fallen from their parents' reach. In the past, many people have “rescued” and brought in healthy, young vultures to Pelican Harbor with good intentions, but in reality are displacing these chicks from where they are supposed to be. 

 
 

Pictured above are two black vulture chicks that were brought into our clinic due to the mistaken removal from their nest

If you ever happen to run into a nest of juvenile vultures, never intervene unless absolutely necessary. Call Pelican Harbor or another wildlife rehabilitation center and see what steps to take next after finding the nest. Experts will be more than happy to assist in these situations, and will help to avoid any unnecessary disturbances!

With that being said, the next time you stumble across our large, bald, funky-looking friends chowing down on their favorite slice of roadkill, take your eyes of disgust and transform them into eyes of admiration! Instead of feeling repulsed, express gratitude to our native vultures for protecting us and our surrounding ecosystem from the harmful spread of disease. And remember, if you happen to stumble across a nest of our baby vulture friends, first call your local wildlife rehab center to help guide you through the best options based on the current situation.

References

Cats: Our Friends, Their Foes

Written by: Nicholas B. Canino, PHSS Intern

Cats are one of the most popular pets in the United States, with about 43 million households owning at least one. Their quirky personalities, neverending curiosity, and admirable features make them delightful pets to have. It is also common knowledge that these enthusiastic critters are not nearly as domesticated as dogs and still have a “wild side” to them. Much of their time is spent hunting toys on a string, pouncing on their owner’s hands, and gnawing on whatever they can get their paws on. Unfortunately, this can lead to a major issue for native animals on the receiving end of their wild nature.

Many cat owners think that it is essential to allow their cats to have free access to the outdoors around the neighborhood. This is due to a common misconception that cats require time outdoors in order to live a healthy life, but in reality, it has the opposite effect. But whether owners decide to leave them outside overnight, during the day, at all times, or even for short periods of time, these cats can do severe damage to the native wildlife that also calls that neighborhood home. Instead of having toys to hunt while inside, cats that are outdoors will choose to hunt a variety of native animals including lizards, birds, and small mammals. Many of these animals end up severely wounded or dead as a result of the cat's wild instincts.

Of course, cats are not to blame for simply complying with their natural behavior. In nature, these cats would be able to hunt and the populations of these animals would not decline so significantly. However, because of the increasing population of feral and outdoor cats in the United States, many native populations are not able to keep up. In some regions of the world, cat populations can be directly attributed to the extinction of numerous species. One study in 2013 found that domestic cats in the U.S. kill an average of 1.3 to 4 billion birds and 6.3 to 22.3 billion mammals annually. This unfathomable number of wildlife killed each year solely from domestic cat predation is why many wildlife ecologists believe cats are a greater concern for biodiversity than deforestation or climate change.

For a long time, cat owners have overlooked the impact that their precious pet is having on their local environment. Many owners will refute this argument by stating that they feed their cats a sufficient amount of food to stop them from hunting. But, has a cat ever stopped hunting toys on a string because it was full? Likewise, many owners say they have only seen their cat bring home an animal once or twice. But, for every animal they bring home, a few were left where they were killed and many more were severely injured and left to die. That is where Pelican Harbor Seabird Station comes in.

Over the past few years, Pelican Harbor has better tracked the circumstances of admission for many of our injured and sick animals. Since 2019, we have had nearly 500 animals come in that were attacked by a cat. About 75% of these animals were birds such as Northern Mockingbirds and Mourning Doves. The other 25% includes mammals like baby opossums and squirrels that we frequently get in the summer months. Cat attacks are the second most frequent reason why animals are brought to us for treatment. Unfortunately, the survival rate for these animals is very low with less than 50% of birds surviving to release. This is due to a potent bacteria that cats carry called Pasteurella multocida, which left untreated has a grace mortality  rate. Our treatment for patients attacked by cats includes strong antibiotics to avoid infection, laser treatment for pain, and wound repair and cleaning if necessary.

Because of the high occurance of cat attacks, there is a lot that we can do at Pelican Harbor to improve the situation for our native animals. Educating guests on the consequences of leaving their cats outdoors is one of the most impactful methods we can use to reduce the negative effects of outdoor cats. We always recommend that people leave their cats indoors and only allow outside access if there is an area where wildlife cannot get to, like an enclosed patio. Not only does this ensure that our wildlife is protected, but that our cats are safe as well. While we do our part to treat our wildlife, make sure you are doing your part to protect them too!


References:

Are outdoor cats happier? - Animal Humane Society

The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States - Nature