The Delightful Limpkin

"Wait. What's that bird?" was all I could whisper, as my heart picked up a beat and the car came to a stop.   I suspected the answer before I heard it from Charlie Corbeil, local naturalist and my volunteer guide to the Viera Wetlands, Brevard County, FL.  "That's a Limpkin."

A brand new bird for me, I had seen my first one through binoculars two days earlier from far across the wetland.  Not expecting to get another opportunity, I was thrilled to find this one foraging near the road.

A wetland specialist that feeds almost entirely on Apple Snails and their eggs, Limpkin bills are especially adapted for this type of feeding.  Their beaks are not only long and curved, but they twist at the tip making them especially adept at extracting snails from their shells.  In fact, they are so adept, that they can extract a snail from its shell in less than 20 seconds!

Encasing of a Florida Apple Snail.

Here's how Sibley's Guide to Bird Life and Behavior describes this bill adaptation:  "About half an inch (1 cm) from the tip there is a distinct curve to the right, allowing it to fit into the right-hand curve of the snail's shell; the tip of the lower bill is twisted 90 degrees, with the sharpened edge fitting against the upper bill and used to cut the snail's operculum from its body.  In addition, the long tongue has a stiff, barbed tip that the bird presumably uses to extract the snail."

Limpkins forage both by sight and touch.  This one probed the mud in the shallows and sometimes submerged his/her entire head to reach prey, which may consist of mussels, other aquatic species and small reptiles when snails aren't prevalent.  

Designated as a Species of Special Concern in Florida, largely due to the decline of the Apple Snail, Limpkins were nearly extirpated in Florida in the 1930's due to hunting and the massive draining of wetlands.  Hunting, land development, poor water quality, human management of water levels and invasive species continue to pose threats to the Apple Snail and bird species, such as the Snail Kite and the Limpkin, who depend upon this snail for survival.

More images of this fun-to-know bird coming up and a finished sketchbook page.

Don't you wonder who discovers all these wonderful tidbits about the species we research?  They deserve our thanks and credit!  The author of the Limpkin section of The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, pp 251-252, is George L. Armistead.  And, by the way, if you don't already have it, I highly recommend this fun and informative reference.

The above images were taken at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in Brevard County, Florida, with guide, photographer and Master Naturalist, Charlie Corbeil. Click the link and visit Charlie's beautiful photography.
Also visit the website of Master Naturalist, and photographer, Vince Lamb. Vince and Charlie were two of my guides while visiting Brevard County's beautiful places and wildlife during my January visit.
Also visit Space Coast Eco for informative descriptions of key natural areas and field trips for your visit to Brevard County. These excellent field trip posts are created by my Brevard County hostess, Marge Bell. You will also want to visit Space Coast Beach Buzz and FloridaBeachBasics for more visitor and wildlife information.

Visit Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival and mark the 2011 dates on your calendar.
And David McCree's festival reports at Blog the Beach will give you interesting information about the 2010 festival activities.
To view all my posts about Brevard County's Space Coast Birds and the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, click here.

Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #83, at Birdfreak.com to celebrate the conservation of our world's birds.