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.

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.

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!