Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve is Always for the Birds!

TBAP staff and interns worked on some preparations of buoy moorings that had been damaged by last year’s hurricanes to be sure that the new rookery island buffer buoys will be securely anchored. This work is ongoing, along with post-rainy season assessments of volunteer work needs on islands near each rookery island.

Installation of the bird buffer buoys will begin in mid-October. It should be concluded well before the blue herons begin the season and their nest construction around Thanksgiving.

Also, while assessing island habitat maintenance needs, TBAP staff found a live, but weak white ibis on one of the islands. TBAP contacted the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary and brought the bird in for attention by their veterinary staff. According to the sanctuary, several white ibis have come in with signs of toxicity lately, but they have been recovering well. TBAP has rescued many brown pelicans, a few white pelicans and other species like cormorants (very feisty), but this is the first ibis rescue they can remember.