Page 4 - PGA Community News - March '20

Page 4, PGA C.A.N.! March 2020 March 2020

Northern Notes

Living With The a nest is untended the chicks or eggs are vulnerable to
predators and harsh temperatures. The longer the nest is
Endangered Snail Kite exposed, the greater the chance of failure. The best way
you can help snail kites is to avoid posted nesting areas
By Katie Roundtree, and to report any harassment or disturbance to FWC’s
Finance Director, Wildlife Alert Rewards Program at (888) 404-FWCC
Northern Palm Beach (3922). Source: www.myfwc.com.
County Improvement District NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
Our logo at Northern waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays,
Pa lm Beac h County using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia.
Improvement District Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm
consists of a picture of temperatures can kill fish. Pet waste also contains
a bird within a circle nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth. Perhaps
surrounded by our name. most importantly, pet waste carries diseases which make
Not many people know water unsafe.
what that bird is though. It
is an Everglades snail kite (Rostrhamus
sociabilis plumbeus) a crow-sized
hawk, which is easily identified Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch
by the white patch at the base of
its tail. It has a unique curved
bill designed to quickly pluck
snails from their shells. Adult Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
males are slate-gray, while
females are brown with varying State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
amounts of white streaks on the
face, chest and neck. A unique trait of both sexes is that Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
they have red eyes.
Snail kites can be found in Central and South America,
but the Everglade snail kite (R. s. plumbeus) is the only Joanne Green, D.D.S.
subspecies found in the United States. Their entire U.S.
range is restricted to South Florida, where they can be 10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
found in shallow freshwater marshes, like those of the Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Everglades, or along the shallow, grassy shorelines of
lakes. Both habitats have a mixture of short plants and (561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com
open water, making them great places for kites to see and
catch apple snails as they climb to the surface to breathe.
Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
Snail kites only eat apple snails, which they hunt by Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
flying low over the water while searching for their prey Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
near the surface. Snail kites do not plunge into the water Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist
to capture snails and never use the bill to capture prey.
Rather, they use their feet to capture snails at or below
the surface of the water. Only snails that are breathing
air, laying eggs or crawling in a few inches of water are
vulnerable. After capturing a snail, the kite pries it open
and, using its curved bill, cuts the snail from the shell.
Sometimes this feat is performed while in flight!
Snail kites have been protected by state and federal
law under the Endangered Species Act since 1967, making
it illegal to harass, kill, capture or collect them. This
includes protection from activities that disrupt normal
breeding, feeding or sheltering. The Florida Fish and • Remodels / New Construction / Additions
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service protect nest sites by posting • New Roofs / Roof Replacements
signs around sensitive areas during the breeding season. • Roof Repairs / Roof Leaks
Always avoid posted areas, particularly from February • Gutter Installation / Cleaning
through August, and stay back at least 500 feet from • Damaged / Missing Roof Tiles
warning signs.
Snail kites will leave their nest when bothered, but • Fascia / Soffit Repair
may not aggressively defend it from people or predators. • Pressure Cleaning
They may fly away or just sit nearby until the intruder • Handyman Services
is gone. This behavior can lead people to think that their
presence is not bothering the birds; however, any time • Insurance Estimates / Repairs
• Insurance Services for Adjusters / Claims LEO Roofing & Construction
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