Derek de Witt

In April, there is one bird that has taken a long journey and is just starting to arrive. They are the reason why this time of year is always one of my favorites. Swallow-tailed kites are back.

This week, we’ll be talking about the distinction between two related and important terms and looking at examples of each here in South Florida. These terms are ‘exotic’ and ‘invasive’.

Have you been paying attention to the birds recently? If so, you might have noticed that their behavior has shifted a bit. That’s because the time of year is mating season for most birds in south Florida.

We’re now in the middle of the dry season here in Florida. We see the effects of this everywhere. The water in ponds recedes and their banks expand. The cypress trees lose their needles and animals shift their behavior to correspond to the changing environment.

Florida in general, and south Florida in particular, have become a well-known hotspot for non-native invasive species. Our subtropical climate provides an excellent territory for introduced species to gain a foothold.

Because of the near-constant warmth here, we have a huge number of year-round avian residents, so it can be easy to forget about our migrants. However, there are plenty of birds that use Florida only as a wintering-ground.

Here in South Florida, we don’t get the same seasons like they do up north. I admit that I still feel a bit nostalgic for autumn and winter at times. While we are technically only ‘subtropical’ here, we experience a rainy season and a dry season much like those that occur in the tropics.

There is nothing quite as iconic to Florida as a trip to the beach. There are a number of reasons people go there, but Florida offers an extraordinary opportunity for those who like to collect shells.

What are these feet? We have a plethora of wading birds here, but this can cause problems with trying to identify a particular individual. Let’s focus on some of the subtle characteristics that can help you distinguish between our frequent long-legged visitors.

From looking at the initial picture, you might think that we already discussed this particular plant species already. It looks similar to the cabal palm. This is a closely related species that is a bit different, the saw palmetto.