American Oystercatcher
6/15/20262 min
American Oystercatchers are crow-sized shorebirds that can be found foraging in intertidal zones along the U.S. Atlantic shoreline and both coasts of Central and South America. Their bodies are mostly black and white, except for bright yellow eyes and a long, orange bill. Sadly, researchers estimate that between 1970 and 2023, American Oystercatchers lost roughly half their population to habitat degradation, human disturbance, and predation by mammals. We can protect shorebirds by giving them space on shared beaches, keeping domestic pets indoors or on leash, and cutting fossil fuel emissions that drive climate change.
This episode is dedicated to Bob Goodale whose lifelong love for birds and nature continues to inspire.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAriana Rimmel0:00
[upbeat music] This is BirdNote. [Oystercatcher chirping] As the tides fall in Cape May, New Jersey, these American Oystercatchers are living up to their name. The crow-sized shorebirds are mostly black and white, except for bright yellow eyes and a long orange bill. [Oystercatcher chirping] American Oystercatchers are shellfish specialists that can be found foraging in intertidal zones along the U.S. Atlantic shoreline and both coasts of Central and South America. Their unmistakable bills allow them to smash up and scarf down oysters, clams, and other bivalves, attracting the attention of birders and mollusk-mooching seabirds. [Oystercatcher chirping] Sadly, researchers estimate that between 1970 and 2023, American Oystercatchers lost roughly half their population to habitat degradation, human disturbance, and predation by mammals like coyotes, raccoons, and domestic cats. We can all do our part to conserve American Oystercatchers by giving them space on shared beaches, keeping domestic pets indoors or on leash, and cutting fossil fuel emissions that drive climate change. [Oystercatcher chirping] You'll find more actions you can take to protect birds at our website, birdnote.org. I'm Ariana Rimmel.