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A diverse group of shorebirds
photographed at Fort Myers Beach, Florida. This group
includes Sanderlings, a Ruddy Turnstone, Willet and a
Laughing Gull. Outside of the songbird family this is
the largest order of birds in the US, and certainly the most
diverse. 115 species of this order are found in the US. They
represent a wide diversity of feeding techniques, nesting
habits, and social structure. Today, many of these species
show the stress of habitat loss. Some, such as the Snowy
Plover nest on beaches during the busiest time of beach-use
by humans.
