article thumbnail

The Everglade Snail Kite Is Making a Comeback

10,000 Birds

While the native apple snail continued declining, another species of apple snail native to South America began to appear in canals and ponds in South Florida. The baseball-sized “Island apple snail”, as this exotic snail is known, spreaded through South Florida. Snail Kites now favor these ponds and breed around them.

Florida 212
article thumbnail

The Endangered Andean Flamingo

10,000 Birds

The Andean Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus andinus ) is one of the three flamingos occurring in the high Andes of South America. Andean Flamingoes and Chilean Flamingo (far right) (Photo: Ron Knight – Flickr). It is the largest and easiest to identify in all age stages.

Chile 154
article thumbnail

Half Hardy

10,000 Birds

The vast majority of Baltimore Orioles that breed in North America return to the tropics between Mexico and northern South America for the cold half of the year. Wicked, right? They are, for many birders in the eastern part of the continent, one of a short list of quintessential spring birds. Hat-tip to Stella.