American Oystercatcher

American oystercatchers are a large, gaudy black and white shorebird with a bright red bill. They nest on small remote islands in eastern coastal Louisiana with an ample supply of their favorite foods: shellfish and marine worms. American oystercatchers’ numbers declined seriously in the 19th century, then recovered well in the 20th century. Despite a disturbance in beach habitats, the species currently is doing fairly well, often nesting on dredge spoil islands.