Where do Roseate Spoonbills nest? Where do they find food? Are they changing their behavior?
Audubon Florida and the Orange Umbrella student consultancy team at the University of Miami used cutting-edge technology, combined with decades of research at our Everglades Science Center, to produce this ten-minute video that showcases how Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades, impacted by climate change and restoration, influence the secret lives of this iconic pink bird.
"Roseate Spoonbills like George tell us that our Everglades ecosystem is already changing. There is so much we can do to protect the River of Grass now and into the future," says Kelly Cox, Audubon's director of Everglades policy.
"Being out in the field was the most challenging shoot I've ever done, but so rewarding!" says Geethika Kataru, University Miami alum and videographer/editor for the project. "Being close to nature and seeing everything Audubon was talking about face to face made me even more inspired than before."
The video highlights:
- Roseate Spoonbills foraging and flying well beyond the Everglades as they move in search of nesting and feeding habitats (including never-before-seen flight maps).
- A brief explanation of how the changes in Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades affect nesting Roseate Spoonbills.
- Roseate Spoonbills as "canaries in the coal mine," showing us how the River of Grass is already changing.
- How Floridians can help Roseate Spoonbills and the Everglades become more resilient now and into the future.
- Rare footage of spoonbill chicks.
Restoring the River of Grass video.
The Orange Umbrella Student Consultancy at the University of Miami functions as a living, growing business and a student collective of experiential education beyond the classroom. Students become familiar with the professional world by working with real clients under the guidance of their Advisory Board and seasoned alumni.
Audubon Florida protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1900, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.
