A FLORIDA ROOKERY 



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OOKERIES" are, or rather were, one of the characteristic 

 features of the bird-life of Florida. The term is generally 

 applied there to all gatherings of roosting or nesting birds, 

 whether Pelicans, Cormorants or Ibises, but, because of their commer- 

 cial importance, one more frequently hears of Heron rookeries. Before 

 the demand for their plumage had brought the aigrette-bearing Herons 

 and Roseate Spoonbill to the verge of extermination, a Florida rookery 

 was one of the most remarkable sights in the bird-life of our country. 



One may still find colonies of Ibises, Cormorants, Pelicans and 

 plumeless Herons, but of those great gatherings of birds which were once 

 so abundant, Cuthbert Rookery appears to be the only one remaining. 

 Here only will one find the birds just named and with them American 

 and Snowy Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills. It seemed therefore especi- 

 ally desirable to make studies there on which to base a representation 

 of this almost vanished phase of our bird-life. 



As may be imagined, Cuthbert Rookery has continued to exist only 

 because of its remoteness. It is situated in the heart of the great man- 

 grove swamp which borders the Everglades at the extreme southern part 

 of the state. So shallow is the water off this part of the Florida coast 

 that the sharpie bearing the Museum expedition, although it drew only 

 two and a half feet, could not approach nearer the shore than seven miles, 

 and five hours were required to reach land by pushing and poling in 

 small boats. In four hours more, following narrow passages through 

 the dense mangroves, Cuthbert Lake was reached. The Rookery is on 

 a small islet, about a mile from the entrance to the lake. At this time 

 (March 29, 1908) it was estimated to contain about 35 Roseate Spoon- 

 bills, 15 Snowy Egrets, 350 American Egrets, 50 Little Blue Herons, 2000 

 Louisiana Herons, several hundred Ibises and a few Cormorants and 

 AVater-Turkeys. Only the Spoonbills, Herons and Egrets were nesting. 



The group is designed to show a portion of the rookery with the birds 

 nesting and roosting in the mangroves, while the background portrays 

 the whole islet at evening when the birds are returning. 



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