Yes, black skimmers are found in Florida. The black skimmer is a unique seabird species that is well-adapted to life in coastal areas. With its distinctive bill and feeding behavior, the black skimmer stands out from other shorebirds in Florida.
Overview of the Black Skimmer
The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like seabird found along the coasts of North and South America. Some key facts about black skimmers:
- They have very long, thin, and uneven orange and black bills, with a lower mandible that is longer than the upper. This allows them to skim along the water’s surface with their lower bill partially submerged to catch fish.
- They have white undersides, black backs and heads, and black stripes on their wings. Their legs are bright red-orange.
- They are medium-sized birds, around 20-24 inches long with a wingspan of 45-50 inches.
- They nest colonially on sandbars and beaches in scrapes (shallow depressions) in the sand.
- They lay 3-5 eggs per clutch from May to July. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young.
- They feed by flying along the water surface with their lower bill in the water, snapping shut when they contact prey. They mainly eat small fish, but also shrimp and crustaceans.
Black Skimmer Population and Conservation Status
Black skimmers are considered a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List. Their global population is estimated at over 110,000 mature individuals. However, their numbers have declined in certain areas, including parts of the United States, due to habitat loss, human disturbance, and other threats. Some key population facts:
- In the US, black skimmers are more common on the Atlantic coast than the Gulf coast.
- Florida supports the largest breeding population of black skimmers in the US, followed by New York and New Jersey.
- The North American breeding population was estimated at 42,000 pairs in the early 2000s, down 60% from the late 19th century.
- They face threats including coastal development, disturbance of nesting colonies, pollution, reduction in prey from overfishing, and sea level rise.
Conservation efforts for the black skimmer include protecting nesting and feeding habitat, managing human disturbance, and restricting certain fishing practices. Overall the species remains widespread and numerous, though declining in parts of its range.
Black Skimmers in Florida
Florida provides extremely important habitat for black skimmers. It supports over 50% of the entire US breeding population of this species. Here are some details on black skimmers in Florida:
- Statewide population estimated at 12,000-15,000 pairs as of the early 2000s.
- Nesting colonies are located along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida.
- Major nesting sites include Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Sable, Dry Tortugas National Park, and various coastal state parks.
- Nesting season lasts from April through August.
- They nest communally in colonies that can number over 1,000 pairs.
- Sea level rise threatens nesting habitat in coastal areas in the long term.
Black skimmers face challenges in Florida due to coastal development, human disturbance, and reduced fish stocks from overfishing. However, they continue to nest in good numbers in protected coastal sites. Ongoing conservation efforts are focused on preserving nesting colonies and minimizing disruptive human activities near nesting areas during breeding season.
Geographic Range in Florida
Within Florida, black skimmers are found along both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts:
- On the Atlantic side, they nest from Nassau County south through the Florida Keys.
- On the Gulf side, they nest from Levy County south around the peninsula to Collier County.
- Major nesting sites are found in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Lee, Collier, and Monroe counties.
- They are rarely found in interior Florida, away from coastal areas.
- Outside of the breeding season, they also range along the entire coastline of the Florida peninsula.
So in summary, black skimmers occupy both of Florida’s coasts year-round, with breeding concentrated in the southern half of the Atlantic coast and southwest coast of the peninsula. They can be found along any part of the Florida coastline during winter and migration.
Population Trends in Florida
Estimates of Florida’s black skimmer population over time show that numbers increased steadily in the late 20th century, but have declined somewhat since the 1990s:
- In the late 1960s, the Florida population was estimated at 4,500 pairs.
- Numbers increased dramatically to around 20,000 pairs by the late 1980s.
- The population peaked at an estimated 23,000 pairs in the 1990s.
- In the early 2000s, the statewide population was estimated to be 12,000-15,000 pairs.
So while Florida still supports the largest breeding population of black skimmers in the country, the numbers have dropped since their peak of over 20,000 pairs in the 1990s.
Ongoing threats to black skimmers in Florida such as coastal development and disturbance still remain a concern. Conservation efforts to protect major nesting colonies in parks and refuges are critical to maintaining habitat for breeding skimmers in the state. Limiting human activity near nest sites during breeding season can also help mitigate disturbance threats.
Black Skimmer Nesting and Breeding
An interesting aspect of black skimmers is their nesting and breeding habits. Here are some details on how they nest and raise young in Florida:
Nesting Colonies
- Black skimmers nest in large colonies that can number over 1,000 pairs.
- Nesting colonies are located on open sandy beaches and exposed sandbars with very little vegetation.
- Barrier islands, sand spits, and even rooftops offer suitable nesting habitat.
- Nests consist of shallow scrapes or depressions in the sand, typically 2-4 inches deep.
- Nests are often extremely dense, spaced just 1-4 feet apart even with hundreds of pairs.
Breeding Season
- In Florida, the breeding season lasts from April through August.
- Egg laying typically peaks in May and June.
- Both male and female skimmers help dig out nest scrapes, often reusing the same sites year after year.
- Females lay clutches of 3-5 eggs over several nights, one egg per night.
- Eggs are buff to cream colored with dark brown spotting.
Incubation and Chicks
- Once the clutch is complete, both parents incubate the eggs for 20-22 days.
- They use their webbed feet to wet the eggs and keep them cool in the heat.
- Parents trade off incubation duties during the day while their mate is feeding.
- Chicks hatch over a 2-4 day period and are precocial, able to walk and swim soon after hatching.
- Young skimmers cluster together in groups called creches, guarded by adults.
- Parents feed the chicks by regurgitating fish into their bills.
- Chicks fledge at 25-35 days old.
Black skimmer nesting colonies in Florida are a remarkable sight, with hundreds of breeding pairs densely packed together on sandy shores. The synchronized hatching and rearing of chicks in creches allows for efficient group care. Florida provides globally important breeding habitat for these unique seabirds.
Diet and Feeding Behavior
The distinctive bill of the black skimmer is perfectly adapted for their specialized feeding technique:
Bill Morphology
- The bill is knife-like with razor sharp edges – red upper mandible and black lower mandible.
- The lower mandible is longer than the upper, allowing them to skim it through the water.
- Bill length can reach 4-5 inches, with lower mandible 1-2 inches longer than the upper.
- Bill shape allows them to snap shut when contact is made with prey.
Feeding Technique
- Skimmers fly just above the water surface with lower mandible submerged.
- They skim along with bill open, sensing for prey.
- When the lower mandible contacts a fish, the bill snaps shut.
- The upper mandible then moves downward to help secure the prey.
- They swallow small fish whole while flying.
Prey
- Small fish such as anchovies, silversides, and mollies are the primary prey.
- They also take some shrimp and other crustaceans.
- Skimmers can spot fish from 16 feet above the water.
- They mostly feed within 5 miles of colony sites.
This unique feeding method allows black skimmers to take advantage of abundant small fish found near the water’s surface. Their specialized bill morphology and flying technique are exquisitely adapted to prey capture by touch.
Threats and Conservation
Although still common, black skimmer populations have declined and face a variety of threats across their range:
Habitat Loss
- Coastal development destroys nesting and feeding habitat.
- Erosion can degrade nesting beaches and sandbars.
- Sea level rise submerges low-lying sites.
Human Disturbance
- Nesting colonies are extremely sensitive to human interference.
- Repeated disturbance causes nest abandonment.
- Off-road vehicles and uncontrolled dogs can be very detrimental.
- Pollution from boats and noise reduce habitat quality.
Reduced Prey Availability
- Overfishing of forage fish stocks may impact food supplies.
- Algal blooms and red tides can limit fish abundance.
- Ingestion of toxins from prey can cause mortality.
Conservation Actions
- Protect and preserve coastal nesting habitats.
- Establish buffer zones to minimize disturbance near colonies.
- Manage vehicle access and pets near nesting beaches.
- Public education and outreach on reducing disturbance.
- Regulate fishing impacts on key forage species.
By protecting major breeding colonies and limiting disruptions, conservationists seek to stabilize black skimmer populations. Beach restoration and habitat management can also mitigate habitat loss. Ongoing monitoring is needed to track population trends.
Conclusion
In conclusion, black skimmers are common seabirds along the coasts of Florida thanks to extensive nesting habitat. Major nesting colonies occur along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, with breeding activity peaking from April to August each year. These unique birds are adapted to skim feeding on small fish and nesting in dense colonies on open sandy beaches. While still numerous in Florida, populations have declined from their peak in the 1990s. Continued conservation efforts focused on protecting nesting habitat and limiting disturbance during breeding season will help secure the future of black skimmers in Florida. Their specialized adaptations and grace in flight make them one of the state’s most iconic seabirds.
