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No they are not some archaic unmentionables your grandmother wore nor are they a tool for cleaning the pool. Though that guess would have gotten you closer for they do skim water. Rather than skimming a pool with cleansing as the objective though theirs is for a substantial one.

Using powerful wings they propel themselves forward at a downward angle parallel to the waters surface while jointly slicing through the water and fishing with their flexible knife like lower mandible. This rather odd lower mandible is about a third longer than the top one. When food-be it fish, plankton or bugs-is trapped in the folded lower mandible the top snaps shut with such force that the birds head jerks down toward the water as the body continues forward creating an awkward but fascinating vision.

Despite the odd looking bill the American Black skimmers, Rynchops Nigra-a tern like bird-are strangely attractive and especially graceful in flight. Their 20 inch bodies with black back, wings, and tail are sharply contrasted by the purest white starting at the forehead, flowing down the neck and following through the underside. The white in turn is contrasted by the orange-red of both the legs and bill which changes, shy of half way, to black. Skimmers are the only birds to have a lower mandible longer than the top. Another distinct feature is the eye which has a vertically slit pupil to protect it from the sun's reflective glare.

There are only two other related species in this small unique family, Rynchops Flavirostris the African skimmer, and Rynchops Albicollis the Indian skimmer. Very similar in looks the differences being slight pattern variations and the African's bill is orange-red tipped in yellow.

Though all three of these cousins fish the ocean waters some prefer the inland waters of ponds and lakes. Nesting in the sand of banks or beaches they make a sunken depression which will hold two or three mottled eggs. Both parents share the duty of egg care. While one parent incubates the other maintains the proper temperature by transporting water via its feet and breast feathers to provide relief from the heat. Once hatched this care continues by leading the chicks to cooling wet sands.

When the chick reaches about two weeks of age it augments the meals its parents provide by catching bugs. The chick soon moves on to crustacea and small fish that it spears at waters edge. As the chick nears fledging its lower mandible starts to lengthen in preparation for skimming. Though some adults still feed in shallow waters, skimming is an important and more efficient method for acquiring food. They do most skimming at night when food stuffs rise with the cooling temperatures and calmer waters.

Whether skimming gracefully on waters surface, strolling the beach with their chicks or fishing along the shore these magnificent birds are a joy to watch. Odd though they may first appear they are sure to become a favorite.

Sources:

Perrins, Dr. Christopher, Dr. C.J.O. Harrison, Reader' Digest Edition (1982) BIRDS: THEIR LIFE-THEIRWAYS-THEIR WORLD

http://www.yutube.com/wat ch?v=JNtt1QBbX_U

Learn more about this author, Robin Moynihan.
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