Last month, our avian team noticed a Red Knot on Keewaydin Island with a colored/numbered flag on its leg. Using a zoom lens, photos taken of the band and photo editing software made it possible to read “021” on the flag, and inquiries were made to determine the bird’s origin. Research staff member Anne Mauro then learned the bird was banded in 2009 at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts.
The bird was seen in South Carolina during spring migration, and in Massachusetts during fall migration. It was even seen at its breeding grounds in James, Bay Ontario, but this is the first time the bird has been reported in Florida. It is also the first time this bird had been reported since 2015, likely due to the extremely faded flag. No wonder: this bird has covered a lot of ground over the past nine years!
Please remember, maintaining a safe distance is imperative for a successful nesting season for all of Florida’s wild life.
Rookery Bay Research Reserve
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve stretches across 110,000 acres of pristine mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters. We are committed to preservation through research, education, and land protection.
