Abstract
Wading birds can be used as valuable ecological indicators in coastal ecosystems (Burger and Gochfeld 2004, Amat and Green 2009). Changes in their abundance and distribution can reveal insights about underlying patterns of environmental change, such as how the Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is used to monitor changes in Florida’s Everglades ecosystem (Lorenz et al. 2009). Here, we report expansion in the breeding distribution of this species to new sites in southwest Florida. We documented the first nests in recent history for this area through routine rookery surveys. We discuss our findings in the context of population trends within the region based on publicly available data. These observations also contribute to ongoing assessments of shifts in the distribution of this indicator species.