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Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary

© Vickie Ferguson

Located between St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida, the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, is a refuge that can accommodate up to 500 birds. Please visit their site and take a look at some of their permanent residents and gather some wild bird information. http://www.seabirdsanctuary.org/

The sanctuary offers shelter and food to birds that have been injured and are recuperating from mishaps or that have become disabled.

According to a news article in the Tampa Tribune dated September 24, 2003, a flock of red knots, totaling 187 birds, has made the sanctuary their new home and will be in residence for several weeks while recuperating.

The birds, found two weeks ago on Sand Key and Clearwater beach, were suffering from what appears to be lack of food and exhaustion.

It is presumed that while making their way from the Canadian Arctic to South America, the food source they rely on to sustain the trip has been depleted leaving them weak, hungry and unable to continue their migration.

According to a spokesperson at the sanctuary, it will be several weeks before the birds are strong enough to continue their long journey.

While resting and building up strength for the long flight is mandatory, food is a primary necessity and the birds are eating an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 mealworms a day!

A little history about the red knot (Calidris canutus): According to The Sibley Guide to Birds, red knots are 10 and a half inches long and have a wingspan of 23 inches.

The birds migrate to South America for the winter and multiple food stops along the way are crucial to their survival of this arduous flight.

They make the return trip to the Arctic in the spring. These guys have earned lots of frequent flyer miles!

One well-documented area that the red knots stop at to replenish themselves is Delaware Bay that is part of the Pinelands National Reserve in New Jersey.

Because of the large numbers of birds that make the stop over for food combined with the depletion of food sources, such as horseshoe crabs, the numbers of birds that arrive at the final destination has decreased. Because of this, there are fewer birds breeding and so the red knot is listed as a threatened species.

As with all creatures sharing the planet with us, it is vitally important that we learn about the impact fishing, harvesting and encroachment of habitat has on the balance between humans and wildlife and become involved in our communities and help in any way we can to make a difference.