Every summer, shorebirds known as Black Skimmers join together in the hundreds to form a nesting colony on the barrier islands lining Tampa Bay. They use their distinctive black and orange beaks and impressive flying abilities to skim the shallow water for small fish.
A young male skimmer wanders through the colony until he finds an available female and presents her with a fish. Together they dutifully tend to their egg in the sand until their chick hatches three weeks later. The colony chose this beach because of the wide open sand between the water's edge and protective dunes. However, these idealistic beaches are also popular destinations for people enjoying the summer and escaping the Florida heat. The Black Skimmer family must navigate the people and the storms while working to ensure their chick's survival and the future of the species.
Director Lia Nydes