Over one of the small Keys in Hawk Channel, Florida, I witnessed the most extraordinary exhibition of aerial mastery I ever saw. Something hidden in the mangroves had excited the ire or curiosity of about a hundred of these buccaneers. Down they fell, feathered-javelins — up — off — then down again! At times they all descended in a phalanx and I marveled how collision was averted. Then they lost interest and swept over us with perfect ease and on motionless pinions — eight feet of wing-spread carrying four pounds of body.

Altho predatory, threatening and compelling other birds to disgorge food, they often seize aquatic food in a long swoop. They never dive and are poor swimmers becoming almost helpless when plumage is wet. The air is their home and there they stay thru calm or storm.