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‍Meet the belted kingfisher: one of our year-round residents. It would be unusual not to see one of these graceful birds anytime you’re out on the lake. Most often, you’ll hear one long before you catch sight of it. These agile fish eaters are amazing acrobats. Their wedge-shaped heads, waterproof feathers and powerful flight muscles allow them to dive for prey and effortlessly maneuver through the water & air. An area of 1000′-1500’ of shoreline is their typical territory. Kingfishers are extremely protective of this territory and will chatter incessantly when a threat is perceived. They build tunnels with nesting cavities in soft, non-vegetative banks along these waterways. Their remarkably adapted feet allow them to both dig these nesting tunnels, which average from 4-8’ in length, and also to catch and carry slippery fish. Two partially fused front toes, two back toes, one of which is capable of rotating forward to manipulate food or grasp tree branches, are called ‘zygodactyl’. Webbing between the toes and spiky scales on the soles of the feet are additional advantages. Understanding them a little better makes me appreciate them even more. Hearing that rattle of a battle cry and catching a flash of blue as they go streaking by makes me smile every time, regardless of how many times I’ve seen them. If you haven’t ever seen one, come; let us introduce you to some of the locals.

~Sheryl White, JLT naturalist guide and historian