I believe they are increasing in Florida.
This narrative comes from Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List by William B. Robertson. Jr. and Glen E. Woolfenden (1992): "Resident on central Florida ranchland, prairies, and savannas. centered in the eight contiguous counties just west and north of Lake Okeechobee. Once somewhat more widely distributed south and west of the Lake and also ranged north in the St. John's River marshes to Volusia co. Still occasionally reported far outside known breeding range, north to Nassau co. , west in the panhandle to Bay co., and south to the Keys. These stragglers are usually lone individuals, and some were known to have escaped from captivity." The Nassau in the description is north of Jacksonville, bordering Georgia. But how ironic to see that in print. Based on that, it seems that the Florida birds have been known to have a propensity to wander, although this does not reference wanderings beyond Florida. I know that these days, they are once again resident south of the Lake. I've seen them within a couple of miles of Alligator Alley. Last winter, I was meeting up with a group at a wetlands area in Hendry co. When I arrived, I had to apologize for being a little late. I explained myself by saying "There was a pair of Caracaras feeding on the shoulder of the road, so I stopped for a while to photograph them. It's funny, but I never have to look for Caracaras anymore. I just get them on my way to places". The reply I got was "Well, they never used to be there". So, put two and two together. Steve Walter From: bounce-118757363-8873...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-118757363-8873...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of leormand . Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2015 6:22 PM To: John Askildsen Cc: NYSBIRDS-L-for posts posts Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Seaford Crested Caracara Photos It's my understanding that Falconer's DO NOT keep this species. Also, there is a distinct Florida population - much shorter trip for the bird than coming from Texas. On Thu, Jan 29, 2015 at 6:03 AM, John Askildsen <askild...@verizon.net> wrote: thanks for posting, steve. well, it is certainly a crested caracara. the worrisome part for me is that it is sitting on someone's deck ! and i think that brings the bird's provenance into question. i've never seen a crested caracara in a densely developed residential neighborhood, let alone sitting on a deck rail. is the bird looking for a 'handout' ? having said that, it seems like an unlikely species for falconers to keep. does anyone have any ideas as to why caracaras are being recorded well out of range, in the last 2-3 years ? texas drought ? JPA John Askildsen Millbrook, New York -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- - Luke www.birdsoflongisland.blogspot.com <http://www.birdsoflongisland.blogspot.com/> -- NYSbirds-L List Info: <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> Please submit your observations to <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> eBird! -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
