​Everglades Tours – Endangered Birds of the Everglades National Park

Everglades Tours – Endangered Birds of the Everglades National Park

The marshy, grassy swamplands of the Everglades National Park makes for a great habitat for over 40 species of mammals, 350 species of birds and 27 species of snakes and many other endangered and threatened creatures that can be seen on the airboat tours. Book your tour of the Everglades at great prices with MiamiDoubleDecker.com. Due to the sheer number of birds that visit or call the park home, the Everglades is often referred to as a true bird lover’s paradise. Here are some of the endangered and threatened species of birds that you can find in the park.

• Southern Bald Eagle

The endangered Southern bald eagle is found in vast numbers in Big Cypress National Preserve, the Everglades National Park, as well as around the dense hardwood hammocks of the Florida Bay where they build their nests. Southern bald eagles are permanent residents of the park and their primary dietary component is fish.

Due to this, they choose nesting sites near water bodies so that their food is easily accessible. These predatory birds feed on small mammals, turtles, waterfowl as well as dead animals. They choose to build their nests on top of the tall cypress trees of the park, which are close to the edge of the water.

• Roseate Tern

The roseate tern is a tropical bird that breeds all in tropical oceans. They nest in colonies, mostly on salt marshes, sandy or rocky islands, as well as the barrier beaches of the Florida Bay. Most tern colonies nest close to the shallow water with sandy bottoms, shoals or bars as this makes for the perfect opportunity for foraging for prey.

• Wood Stork

The wood stork is a large wading bird that is characterized by its thick down-curved bill and bald head. It is the only stork to breed in United States. It is known to breeds during the dry season in the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve when fish are easily available. It is also often sighted in the Florida Bay.

• Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow

Yet another endangered bird native to Florida Bay is the Cape Sable seaside sparrow. It is nicknamed the ‘Goldilocks bird’ because it is very choosy about the conditions of its habitat. If the condition of its habitat is not just right, it will refuse to build its nest. The transformation of the habitat of this bird is causing sightings of this bird to become few and far between.

• Red-cockaded Woodpecker

The red-cockaded woodpecker is a medium-sized bird which has also made its way onto the endangered species list. It inhabits mature pine forests that are at least 80 years old. It is the only woodpecker in North America that excavates and roosts in living trees. They feed on insects such as ants, beetles, caterpillars, and roaches.

• Piping Plover The piping plover is a tiny sandy colored shore bird which is around the same size as a sparrow. It is a protected species, often found along the sandbanks of marshy water bodies.