I'd Rather B Birdin': Masked Booby

I may be delayed in visiting those who leave links this week...Server and Network Provider is updating and establishing 5G connections. All week, it's been erratic being online.

MASKED BOOBY [juvenile]
photos taken: ARK Rehibilitation Center
found injured on Gulf Shore transported to ARK in Port Aransas
habitat map: Booby
Length: 32 inches
Wingspan: 62 inches

note: last photo of the masked booby series - in the background, a northern gannet.

BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON
photo taken: Paradise Pond
habitat map: Heron
Length: 25 inches
Wingspan: 45 inches

BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK
photo taken: Port Aransas Birding Refuge
habitat map: Duck
Length: 21 inches
Wingspan: 30 inches

EASTERN KINGBIRD
photos taken: The Willows
habitat map: Kingbird
Length: 8.5 inches
Wingspan: 15 inches

YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO
photos taken: Bazemore Park
habitat map: Cuckoo
Length: 11-13 inches
Wingspan: 15-17 inches

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Those participating this week:

Betty Crow
Lea, Bald Eagle
The Early Birder
Linda, Virginia, USA
Arun, India
Travels With Birds [no hyperlink used]
Jean@SoNotOrganized
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Eileen
Lea's Menagerie
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
Lavender Dreams
NatureFootstep
Rosyfinch Ramblings

Note: I just recently added the ABA Birder's Guide Link to my TOP RIGHT sidebar. This month [March] there are a couple of articles that may be of interest to Marie [in Oregon] and Phil [in England]. Just click on the guide and use the features to expand to full page view and see if they're worth reading. Who knows?!!

About six years ago, ARK [animal rehabilitation keep] opened up a new facility to assist in the event of an oil spill and therefore a danger to wildlife in the sea [Gulf of Mexico]. It's named "OILED WILDLIFE FACILITY". To continue striving to help injured or sea life [birds, turtles, etc.] from more harm, the staff and experts alike will take extra steps to help those in need; in February 2017 South Texas had a week of freezing temperatures and the sea turtles were found cold and lethargic - this facility took them in and rejuvenated them for re-release. Keep in mind, the public is not invited into this section of the campus/research grounds. But, you can observe at a distance from a fenced off area. Unauthorized personnel and vehicles are prohibited. I dare say....keep your distance or pay the consequences. I've been there, at the University of Texas Marine and Science Institute many times, but never ventured near the 'new' facility until recently. I was quite impressed with what I witnessed. Also, besides the indoor exhibits of sea life and gift shop, the property has dormitories for those college students majoring in Marine Science, along with a small pond for re-released birds after rehab, etc. It's a phenomenal, learning, educational center for anyone interested. The location is just yards from the beach, the ship channel, and the jetty in Port Aransas. [enlarge the aerial photo* borrowed from the internet...I added arrows to give you an idea of the premises]

* Section 107 of the Copyright Act states: ...the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. Source

While I stood and scoped out the area, I saw birds that are rarely seen on land in this part of the globe.. Other than the healing turtles, spoonbills, brown and white american pelicans and seagulls within the fenced off area, I also noticed two masked boobies, a northern gannet, and a brown booby. These more 'sea' birds were all under a green canvas canopy and when I took photos they all turned out a shade of green in the photos because of the lighting...so I took more photos with the camera's black and white feature. Two volunteer gentlemen were busy preparing for their feeding, and didn't know the extent of the birds' injuries...

top left to right: Masked Boobies and Brown Booby
bottom left to right: Northern Gannet and Masked Booby
HABITAT MAPS [north america]: Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Northern Gannet

- - -

After my short time watching, I walked the surrounding area around the pond, along the jetty and back to the parking lot to get back in the car and drive to another birding hot spot. College Spring Break always keeps me from the area for a while, since it's more or less bikini to speedo on the beaches. But, this is some of what I spotted before Spring Break arrived. [this is my first trip of two in one week...the 2nd time I was stranded on the island during a tropical rain storm for a bit]. By the way...if you've never been to the warm beaches during Spring Break, you won't understand...but just this past Thursday [March 16th] there were over 1000 arrests/violations and one fight that entailed the PAPD/CCPD and state troopers to use pepper spray to break it up...the officers were then mobbed by 100s of students.

MYRTLE WARBLER - AMERICAN KESTREL
photos seen: Warbler - Paradise Pond * Kestrel - UofT Marine Institute PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Warbler - Kestrel

GRAY CATBIRD - BLUE WINGED TEAL [female & male]
photos taken: Catbird and Teals - Leonabelle Refuge PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Catbird - Teal

GREAT BLUE HERON - BROWN PELICAN
photos taken: University of Texas Marine Institute - PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Heron - Pelican

PIED BILLED GREBE - TRICOLORED HERON
photos taken: Leonabelle Refuge - PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Grebe - Heron

YELLOW THROATED WARBLER - CORMORANTS [and pelicans and egret]
photos taken: Warbler - Paradise Pond * Cormorants - Corpus Christi Ship Channel - PORT A Texas
habitat maps: Warbler - Cormorant

Now share your birding experiences:

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§ Migrants and Injuries...

§ Island Birds - Marine Institute

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