Story Behind the Photo: American Oystercatchers
American Oystercatchers are one of the most distinctive shorebirds found in the United States. Usually found in pairs, American Oystercatchers are monogamous and pairs may last thier entire life. True to their name, the Oystercatchers use thier long bright red bills to feed on oysters and other mollusks along the shore. While not endangered, populations of American Oystercatchers are low and several states have them listed as ‘species of concern’ with Florida listing them as ‘threatened’. There are roughly 400 pairs of American Oystercatchers in Florida with approximatley ten percent living in the Tampa Bay area. This pair of American Oystercatchers lives on Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin, FL, in a protected habitat. 
