Habitat Requirements and Environmental Concerns For kingfishers , nesting and feeding require particular conditions in terms of habitat . Although in its evaluation of current threat levels for various animal species , The South Carolina State Wildlife Action Plan of 2015 does not characterize the belted kingfisher as a species of environmental concern . Given their requirements for survival , kingfishers have several vulnerabilities . ( Thibault 2015 ) In some places , human activity has actually created additional locations for nesting , such as gravel and sand piles , but in other areas , development has decreased habitat . The building of hard surface revetments and fortifying banks along marshes , rivers , lakes , and streams reduces nesting opportunities . Kingfishers have also been known to vacate areas that have become inundated with human activity . Dead trees ( known as snags ) or branches hanging over or near water , which are important sites for fishing and resting between dives for food , may not survive construction projects .
As noted above , these birds require relatively clear water to see their prey before they dive . Human activities , such as construction , can involve clear-cutting and adding impervious surface area . These conditions are known to increase runoff and add substantial amounts of siltation to waterways and coastal regions . Besides , climate change brings heavier rainfalls , more frequent flooding , and higher tides , resulting in more erosion and turbid water and increasing the risk of more eggs and young drowning in nest tunnels due to high water .
Know Your Birds Meeting the specific needs of any species can only occur when human beings become interested , informed , and engaged . So why aren ’ t kingfishers high on anyone ’ s radar ? Well , one explanation for its low popular standing may be the frustration felt by many photographers who find this bird notoriously tricky to photograph , predominantly due to its readiness to flee quickly and its velocity in the air . Photographers are among the strongest supporters of wildlife conservation , and , by offering a visual gateway to the general population , their work can spark human interest . At the same time , by learning more about the kingfisher life cycle , photographers can develop more successful strategies for capturing this elusive bird .
Experts have found that the birds are easier to photograph in August and September . Some suggest that this is because , since nesting is in late April and early June , these more easily approachable kingfishers may , in fact , be juveniles . The thinking goes that they may not be as savvy or experienced and are , therefore , less likely to scoot away as a photographer moves closer . ( Kaufman 2019 )
In any case , as author Mock emphasizes , “ species awareness ” is vital to saving species diversity , and it is never too early to start getting to know the amazing creatures that share our planet . Even animals that seem ubiquitous have intriguing attributes and habits that people can never appreciate with just a passing glance . The belted kingfisher certainly falls into this category . ( Mock 2019 ) NK
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