Black Skimmers Lying on the Beach

By Dee Fairbanks Simpson

I was up to Sebastian Inlet this morning. Saw a weird thing. I was taking pictures of a herd of black skimmers, when one just kind of flopped onto the ground onto his tummy, with his head on the ground. I thought at first that he was dying, but then another one did the same thing, then another and another. I called David and asked him if I should call Fish and Wildlife, and he said no, it's just something the black skimmers do now and then.

When I got home a quick survey of other audubon members and an online search showed that this is fairly common behavior, especially after eating or when they are just plain old tired. I learn something new every day!