Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/133618
Sarasota News Leader May 31, 2013 "I've just seen the most beautiful bird!" Rather, they would comment that they had seen an odd bird, somewhat stocky; and perhaps they would go as far as to elaborate and say it had a yellow head and a feather in its cap. Page 78 pink so shockingly vibrant that you would think this bird had broken into a manicurist's polish supplies and liberally painted itself! OMG! Eureka! Mystery bird solved! Why is a bird beautiful, but not outstandingly so, in 5) Color. Blue beak. And it simply has to be a November and beautiful and vividly blue- (or blue that jumps out at you! It cannot be dark pink-) billed by April and May? navy or pale Alice blue. Hmmm ... There is no such thing! Ibis have red bills. The Great Egret 6) Season! We are now near the end of the and Great Blue Heron have bills of black to mating, breeding and brooding season for yellow to orange; the Snowy Egret's is black. shorebirds, when all birds are still arrayed The Tricolored Heron's bill is yellow and black in their spectacular displays. Bills and legs and the Little Blue Heron's is a pale slate with gradually displayed vibrant colors; graceful black. airy aigrettes sprouted from birds' backs; In breeding season, the rare Reddish Egret, and distinctive head plumes emerged — any(which actually does grace our Siesta shores) thing to make the birds more pleasing to a displays a pink and black-tipped bill. It is a potential mate. A Reddish Egret hunts for a snack. Photo courtesy of Rick Greenspun