Save Our Seabirds volunteer Cyndi Seamon rescued a lethargic razorbill yesterday on Longboat Key’s beach and transported it to the facility.

The razorbill is part of an influx of the species in Florida that began last week. It looks similar to a penguin and has been spotted throughout the area.

Previously, Florida had just 14 reports of razorbills, which are part of the alcid family and typically reside in cold North Atlantic waters and rarely stray south of Cape Hatteras, N.C. Last week, however, razorbills began appearing in Florida, with many part of flocks as large as 20.

According to Dr. Lou Newman, a retired veterinarian and avid wildlife photographer, other species that are typical in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic have been turning up in the Southeast.

Alcids are sometimes driven by storms to unusual places, but usually large-scale invasions are driven by food shortages.

Contact Robin Hartill at rhartill@yourobserver.com.

 

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