Black-necked Stilts Fighting for Territory

 

It was mid-August and Bear River MBR was still bustling with life.

When I saw the group of Black-necked Stilts peacefully looking for food I didn't even suspect that in a few minutes the most unexpected and interesting would begin. 

Out of nowhere, another group of stilts arrived to the same swamp and the battle for territory began.

Generally, life is good.

Elegance

 

Being able to be so close to the Black-necked Stilts that early morning made me think about how I could show them a little differently, focusing only on their irresistible grace.

Generally, life is good.

On the Wings - III

Immature Black-crowned Night Heron.

Swainson's Hawk.

Double-crested Cormorant.

Snowy Egret.

Black-necked Stilts.

Generally, life is good.

Gathering

The Bear River residents often gather together in the morning.  One of the moments during the gathering one group made me smile. A White-faced Ibis was surrounded by American Avocets and Black-necked Stilt.  The ibis looked very much like a "preacher".

Now this is quite a large crowd, which pushed the "preacher" aside.

Generally, life is good.

Black-necked Stilts Are Nesting

 

In early June, I was lucky enough to watch how a male and female Black-necked Stilts incubate their eggs.  

Both parents incubate the eggs but the males often drive away intruders and defend the nest. That morning I saw the male Stilt in the nest for the first time. The plumage of male Black-necked Stilts is darker than the female.

At some point the male stood up to leave the nest.

A male Black-necked Stilt leaves the nest.

The female Stilt is returning to her nest. Her plumage is lighter. 

Upon returning to the nest, the female Stilt should check her eggs.

Generally, life is good.

On the Wings

 

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Black-necked Stilts.

Snowy Egret.

Foster's Tern.

Generally, life is good.

Silhouettes of Black-necked Stilts

That late evening on the Bear River MBR I was looking for an opportunity to create at least one decent silhouette and was lucky to meet a couple of Black-necked Stilts who helped me practice creating silhouettes.

Generally, life is good.

Mating and Post-mating Dance

 

Copulation of Black-necked Stilts takes a few seconds and when it is finished, the post-mating dance will begin.

After copulation, the pair cross their beaks in a post-mating dance.

The beaks are crossed, but the stilts soon separate their beaks and walk together.

The Black-necked stilts became a couple!

Generally, life is good.

A Curious American Avocet

Birds are curious creatures, and their curiosity often leads them to new discoveries.  

So the Avocet above decided to check out the stone and if it was suitable for perching and possibly for fishing.

Would it be more comfortable to stay in the middle of a stone?

Or it's better yet stand up tall.

Why not try this more stable pose?  

This way I can search for food without walking through the swamp.

As I watched this curious Avocet I thought how resourceful and persistent this bird was at exploring something new.

Generally, life is good.

 

High Quality Floating Nest

 

During past few years I was lucky to observe and photograph how Black-necked Stilts were nesting. I saw them incubating their eggs between the rocks, on the ground but have never seen their floating nests. 

The floating nest in the photo above was build by female and male Stilts.   

Why did they chose to build this luxurious nest is difficult to say?  I assume that their instinct led them to this place and "told" it's more safe to incubate the eggs in this hidden place and on the floating nest.   

I am sure that the female chose the place and was determined to build a high quality nest.  

Yes, it is hard and tedious work, but in the end, the chances of a safe incubation of eggs are much greater than in the open space between the rocks or in the shallow dent covered with a few sticks on the ground.

Generally, life is good.

Black-necked Stilt is Nesting - I.

 

I recently came across the two Black-necked Stilt nests.  One of them was  built on the ground in a recess covered with dry branches, and the other was a floating nest.

The nest in the photo above was built by both parents on bare open ground near the water. Both the female and the male will incubate eggs.

From time to time the female Stilt got up to check the eggs.

The female is very cautious and takes her time to mount on the eggs.  Black-necked Stilts lay three to four eggs. There were four eggs in this nest.

For a while, the female Black-necked Stilt will sit on the eggs and then she will take a short break.  The late mornings are very warm so the eggs in the nest will be fine to left unattended for a while.

Life goes on.

All Together

In cold windy weather, birds usually hide in the thickets, but on that day a small group of Black-necked Stilts gathered together and wasn't going hide from the wind.  They were patiently waiting for the wind to die down when suddenly, out of nowhere appeared a White-faced Ibis and crashed into the group. 

Luckily, the Ibis landed a little further from the group not disturbing Stilts.

Apparently, the Black-necked Stilts and American Avocet weren't happy sharing the space with Ibis and took off into the wind almost immediately after he landed.  

To shoot in low light on a windy overcast days sucks. Most of my photos were blur but a few came out sharp enough to share them here.

Generally, life is good!

Nest Between the Rocks?

 

The behavior of a female Black-necked Stilt puzzled me right from the beginning. She acted restless and hesitant.  What I didn't know that there was a nest the female built between the rocks and she was going to return back to it.

Black-necked Stilts build their nests on the ground on the clumps of vegetation or floating algae but I never heard of laying eggs between the rocks. That was unusual.

The female is going to her nest.  She is very cautious and slow.

The female Stilt knows exactly where the egg is but takes precaution and stops for a few seconds. 

You can see the egg, it's buff with dark spots.  Usually, Black-necked Stilts lay three to four eggs but I saw only one egg.

The female is a very careful and takes her time to mount on the egg.

The egg is almost covered by female.

For a while the female Black-necked Stilt will lay on the egg and then she will take a short break.  The mornings are very warm so the egg in the nest will be fine to left unattended for a while.

Generally, life is good!