16 Mar The Story of EB
Beginning in 2010, the zoo was finally graced with nesting Roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja). This hot pink bird with an unusual spoon-shaped bill provided a dynamic contrast in the rookery against the mostly white backdrop of Great egrets, Snowy egrets, and Wood storks. Staff was excited to see that among the original four nesting pairs was an individual wearing two leg bands. Audubon of Florida began banding spoonbill nestlings in 2003 in order to understand their movements, determine longevity, and protect their critical habitats.
Photo by Charles Twine
The nesting bird’s right leg was wearing an aluminum USGS bracelet. It was silver in color and placed just above the feet. All banded birds receive this from the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory and it is used to identify any bird that is recaptured or recovered. On the tibia (looks like the bird’s “knee”) of the right leg was another aluminum band, but this one was much larger and red. The band was also engraved with the letters “EB.”
Photo by Charles Twine
The Bird Department was quite familiar with this banded spoonbill. He (or she) was first spotted out roosting in the rookery on November 26th, 2005. After reporting his leg band to Audubon of Florida, we found out that he was banded on April 29th of the same year in the Alafia Colony in Tampa. Just a few months after fledging, EB managed to fly almost 200 miles to beautiful St. Augustine!
2014 marks the fifth year in a row that EB has nested within the Alligator Farm’s rookery. The first year he and his mate raised four chicks to fledging and proceeded to raise two more the following year.
Photo by Karen Willes
In 2013, their nest failed due to a dreadful storm in May which dropped nine inches of rain in two days. EB and his mate are at it again this year and have constructed their nest within a Cypress tree between the swamp boardwalk and Maximo. Every year the pair have selected a different nest site within the rookery, but once again their nest is within easy view of the guests and staff for us to enjoy.
Photo by Karen Willes