Black Skimmers are part of the same family of seabirds as terns. Skimmers often nest among tern colonies. They rely on the terns’ aggressive attacks on gulls and mammals. This helps to keep their eggs and young safe from predator---well, fairly safe.
They often battle in the sky over food and territory. I get asked asked all the time if the skimmers actually bite each other. Yes, they certainly do. Can you imagine those large bills chasing you in the sky!!!
Newly paired up skimmers also gracefully fly in unison back and forth over the colony. Young skimmers mimic the behavior of the adults with mock fighting and unison flight. They also practice their “skimming”. They will go back and forth in shallow water searching for fish with their lower mandible not their eyes. Once they feel the fish, they close their bills on it. They can also do this at night since they do not need to see. Lots of times I have shown up at the beach well before sunrise. I have watched the skimmers skimming along the shoreline in the dark, it is a treat to watch them. I also see them fish during the day which is really cool too.
Below are a few of my battling skimmer images that I have photographed over the years. I was looking through them the other day and they made me smile. I miss seeing the skimmers and hearing their barking calls. Can’t wait to photograph them at the beach. They are one of my favorite birds to photograph.
The American Oystercatcher barely escaped without a bite!