Today's Bird: The Black Skimmer

  As many of my friends are off to the beach today, I thought today's bird should be the Black Skimmer. Just to be clear: this bird is not dead.  This is the way that they rest.  I promise.  Anyway, the Black Skimmer is the only North American skimmer species.  They're related to Gulls and Terns, but they almost act like mini-Pelicans. The reason that they're called Skimmers is that they fly down really low over the water to scoop up food in their big bill just like a Pelican would--skimming the surface of the water and eating whatever they gather up.  I took this picture along Route 48--the road that connects Brownsville, Texas to South Padre Island.