MALE & FEMALE BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES, EAGLE LAKES C0MMUNITY PARK, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 4/5/2025

 

BLACK-NECKED STILTS IN NESTS & ELSEWHERE, EAGLE LAKES C0MMUNITY PARK, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 4/5/2025

   The first photo shows a Black-necked Stilt in its nest and second photo shows the same Stilt walking around in the area of the nest.  While it was walking around it chased other birds that got too close to the nest.  The third photo shows another nest with a Black-necked Stilt in it.

 

SNOWY EGRETS, EAGLE LAKES C0MMUNITY PARK, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 4/5/2025

 

WHITE IBIS, EAGLE LAKES C0MMUNITY PARK, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 4/5/2025

 

OSPREY CHICK IN NEST & OSPREY TAKING OFF IN FLIGHT, EAGLE LAKES C0MMUNITY PARK, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 4/5/2025

 

ABANDONED PILEATED WOODPECKER NEST TAKEN OVER BY BEES, NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 2020 - 2022

   Recently I read an article in the Spring 2025 issue of Cornell Lab of Ornithology's LivingBird magazine on research that shows that woodpeckers are the homebuilders of the forest.  Woodpeckers excavate nest holes that are subsequently used by numerous other species of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.  

   Here is an example of a Pileated Woodpecker nest in a snag at Naples Botanical Garden being used by bees after it was abandoned by the Pileated Woodpeckers.  The first photo shows a Pileated Woodpecker looking out of this nest on 12/26/2020.  The second photos was taken of the same nest on 11/29/2022 and shows the bees have taken over the nest.

 

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 4/4/2025