By Ed Caum (Photos courtesy of Joe
Colontonio)
In an interesting turn of events, Razorbills
have recently been seen in Florida waters in astounding numbers. This cold-water
bird is normally found offshore in the northern Atlantic with jaunts as far south as New Jersey and Virginia.
This medium-sized water bird has a black
uppers with a white under parts. Its bill is stout and deep in adults and
thinner in immatures. It resembles a penguin at first glance, except it flies. Experts call these birds alcids, or the auk family,
and there are several species - like puffins - that are referred to in that manner.
Local birding expert Bill Pranty*, an editor with American Birding Association,
and author of A Birder’s Guide to Florida, has viewed Razorbills off of Anclote
Gulf Park, Green Key, and Hudson Beach. “There has also been a sighting at Gulf
Harbors,” he said.
Local birder, Joe Colontonio was able
to get photos of some of them just off the Hudson shoreline.
“You need to look
for them at high tide,” Colontonio said. “I haven’t heard of people seeing them
during the low.” What brings them to Pasco’s coastline?
Pranty says there may be several factors.
“Super Storm Sandy did major damage
to the estuaries up north and may have spread pollution into areas that the Razorbills
would find food,” he explained.
“ Razorbills also had an had unusually high
population growth this last nesting season and the waters off the North Atlantic
have gone up several degrees [relating to climate change] so this could also be
factors in why they are so far south searching for food.”
Razorbills are from the bird family
Alcidae and take three years to reach maturity. Most of the reported sightings
in Florida are of immatures; this may be their first migration, which means,
with more competition for food along the East Coast, they had to keep moving
south to find fish to eat.
“The reports I have heard is the birds
are feeding on glass minnows in Florida waters,” said Pranty. In northern waters, sand eels are one of the
food sources available to the Razorbills and the glass minnows in Florida
waters are similar in shape and size. Razorbills are powerful swimmers and can
dive to considerable depths to capture prey.
“Razorbills literately fly
underwater,” said Pranty. “They flap the wings for propulsion and are very
agile.”
If the timing of past migrations holds
true, (not this one to Florida), then the Razorbills should be around until
March. That’s when they head back north
for their nesting season on the cliffs of the cold water islands in the North
Atlantic. Because there have never been so many this far south, it will be
interesting to see if they all head back or if part of the population remains
in Florida waters. These birds are rarely seen on land and rely on the safety
of tall cliffs to safely rear their offspring. Florida’s coastline is a far cry
from Iceland and Newfoundland terrain.
In the past 120 years of recorded
birding history, only 14 razorbills have been recorded in Florida waters,
according to Pranty. This current irruption [that’s the technical birding term]
is a highly unusual turn of events but the local birders are enjoying being
able to check another bird of their life list.
*Bill has been a
resident of central Florida since 1978, when he and his parents moved from
their native Pittsburgh. He has been
birding since age 14 and joined both the American
Birding Association (ABA) and Florida Ornithological Society (FOS) in
1984. He has compiled
bird sightings statewide for the FOS Field Observations Committee since 1992
and is a former member of the FOS Records Committee.
