Their breeding habitat is the northern prairies of western Canada (Canadian Prairies), and the north central Great Plains of the United States near marshes or ponds. So, this large shore bird had come a very long way to land in southeast Virginia.
It was pretty hot that day in August. I arrived at the Refuge about 10AM and hit the beach armed with my camera, beach chair, and water. I was prepared to walk a mile or more in the hopes of finding this bird. As I completed the hike down the boardwalk and hit the sandy beach, I could already see some shorebirds and a number of fishermen.
I set up my chair and sat down. The beautiful, Atlantic Ocean was stretched as far as the eye could see, right in front of me. And also, unbelievably, was the Marbled Godwit!
I could not believe my luck! Next to the Godwit was a Willet, another rather large shorebird, very common in Virginia Beach. But there the similarity ends. The Marbled Godwit is an extra large bird with striking cinnamon colors. The long, slightly upturned, two toned swordlike bill is most impressive, as it plunges it deep into sand or mud to pull out aquatic invertebrates and plant tubers. I sat there, stunned.
But I quickly regained my composure and started shooting. More Willets flew in to join the buffet and also some tiny Sanderlings. Breakfast must be good!
The birds kept me entertained for about 45 minutes. But eventually they followed whatever they were dining on further down the beach and more fishermen appeared to also enjoy the ocean’s bounty that morning. I packed up my gear and headed to the parking lot, a smile on my face.
The Marbled Godwit is considered to be “climate endangered.” Its numbers were reduced by market hunting during the 19th century. There has been some recovery since, but the bird is now declining again as more and more of its nesting habitat is converted to farmland.
