The wood stork, or Mycteria Americana, is found throughout the coastal islands in Georgia, including Tybee Island. When they are adults, wood storks are 3 to 4 feet long and have a wingspan of approximately 5 feet. Tybee Island is a roosting site for wood storks in the summer months. These birds nest in trees surrounded by water; the nests are made from sticks and mud from Tybee's wetlands area. A wood stork's feeding method is grope feeding; this type of feeding requires the stork to open its bill and stick it in the water. When prey touches the bird's bill in passing, the wood stork quickly shuts the bill.
Sea turtles belong to the Chelonioidea family and are found along the coastline of Tybee Island. This marine reptile usually occupy Tybee Island from May through October. The primary reason for sea turtles coming to Tybee Island is nesting. When they are not on the beach nesting, sea turtles live in the ocean for most of the year. Although they require oxygen to breath, sea turtles are able spend long periods of time underwater. A sea turtle's natural lifespan ranges from 80 to 100 years. Due to overhunting and habitat loss, sea turtles are considered endangered.
Also known as Morus bassanus or "solan," the northern gannet is a white-feathered bird found on Tybee Island and the entire Georgia coastline during the winter months. Bird watchers identify the northern gannet by the light yellow feathers on its crown and black feather on the tips of their wings. When flying, the northern gannet will alternate short glides with rapid wing beats. Northern gannets grow up to 4 feet in length and have a wingspan of approximately 6 feet when they mature. These birds migrate across the Atlantic Ocean in between season; northern gannets breed in Europe and eastern Canada during the summer.
The hermit crab are in the Paguroidea family and are identified by the large gastropod shell. The crab uses this shell as protection against predators; when threatened, the crab retracts into the shell. Also, the shell acts as a shield for the hermit crab's soft abdomen area. Adult hermit crabs grow up to 3 or 4 inches. When they reach adulthood, hermit crabs must find a larger shell to use. These crabs usually search for empty shells to occupy; however, hermit crabs will steal shells from other hermit crabs if there is a shortage of shells. Hermit crabs have four set of legs; however, the last set is primarily for cleaning its gills or incubating eggs.