At one point there were only some 700 snail kites left in the world.But in the last decade or so, these dusky, red-eyed little raptors, found only in Florida, have made a comeback.
Their rebound may have a surprising reason: the proliferation of an invasive exotic snailScientists began noticing the endangered kites, which normally ate native Florida apple snails, starting to dine on the much larger exotics. Then, a groundbreaking study showed the birds were adapting rapidly to the snail invasion by evolving bigger bills to handle bigger mollusks.
But though evolution usually occurs over millennia, it took these birds mere generations. Researchers are still untangling the puzzle, but the good news is kites are increasingly common, especially at Harn’s Marsh in Lehigh Acres, where watchers have a good chance of seeing one. From Lee Boulevard head north on Sunshine., turn left on Olive Ave. N. and turn left on 38th St. W. toward the marsh.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Evolution in action: Rare snail kites’ bills changing to deal with exotic prey
Reporting by Amy Bennett Williams, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
