Sturgeon photobombs protected birds along Maine coast
A relatively large shorebird that was once nearly extinct is making a big comeback, thanks to ongoing conservation efforts, and the population is growing in Maine.
The American oystercatcher is considered a species of high concern in the critical risk category.
According to the Maine 2015 Wildlife Action Plan, the first record of an American oystercatcher nesting in Maine was in 1994. At the time of that report, it was estimated there were only four to eight breeding pairs in the state.
Experts now estimate there are about 15,000 American oystercatchers in the United States, stretching from Maine to the Gulf Coast.
This week, Walter Brooks shared pictures with Maine's Total Coverage of several American oystercatchers along the Cumberland County coast.
One picture also showed a sturgeon jumping out of the water and seemingly trying to fly alongside three of the birds as they flew past.
Oystercatchers have a long, bright reddish-orange bill that they use to break open the shell of their main food source, oysters, and other shellfish.
Adult American oystercatchers can grow to be up to 20 inches tall.
American oystercatchers are not the only shorebirds making a comeback. There have also been significant efforts to protect and along the Maine coast, and the Maine Audubon says those efforts are paying off as well, with record numbers reported this year.