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- A flock of roseate spoonbills feeds in Lemon Lake
Whenever I am in the vicinity I always stop by Amberjack Preserve (Charlotte County, FL) to see what birds are on Lemon Lake. There can be large numbers or not, depending mostly on the depth of the lake which varies depending on rainfall, tides and evaporation. Most birds prefer a declining lake level which allows them to feed on concentrated prey (small fish and invertebrates for the predators) or bottom vegetation for the herbivorous ducks. Spoonbills are the hallmark species that everyone wants to see because of their amazing colors, which are dependent on pigments derived from their invertebrate prey. This spoonbill displays its trademark and bizarre bill which is an efficient means of trapping small animals when water levels drop and concentrate the prey.
