Wading birds use their long legs to wade into the water to catch food. Our neighborhood's creek provides an excellent habitat that attracts these beautiful birds. They spend a lot of time in the freshwater creek and a few blocks away in Boca Ciega Bay.
"Wading birds have physical and behavioral adaptations for living on or near water. While all animals need fresh drinking water, wading birds depend on water as a source of food, shelter, and nesting sites. The group includes cranes, herons, egrets, storks, spoonbills, and ibises."
‒ https://www.audubonadventures.org//wading_birds_essay.htm
Here are some of the wading (and some other large) birds that I have photographed in the creek. There are others that visit, but I haven't been able to photograph them yet.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL
SNOWY EGRET
IBIS
GREAT WHITE EGRET
GREAT BLUE HERON
TRICOLORED HERON
WOOD STORK
CORMORANT (not considered a wading bird)
ANHINGA (not considered a wading bird)
PEACOCK (not considered a wading bird)
All photos by Steve of the Jungle. Location: Jungle Country Club Creek
