Wildlife

Birds Suddenly Vanish From Florida Key Refuge

Florida wildlife experts are baffled at the sudden disappearance of thousands of nesting birds on a 150-acre mangrove key along the state’s Gulf Coast north of Tampa Bay.

What used to be the region’s largest bird colony on Seahorse Key was typically alive at this time of year with a constant din of pelicans, blue herons, roseate spoonbills and other birds.

But all of them abandoned their nests in May, leaving the island silent and littered with broken eggs.

“It’s not uncommon for birds to abandon nests,” said Peter Frederick, a University of Florida wildlife biologist, during an interview with The Associated Press.

“But, in this case, what’s puzzling is that all of the species did it all at once.”

A small number of the birds appear to have flown to a nearby island.

The exodus could have a significant impact on other wildlife that rely on the birds to survive.