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Birding Adventures:
Reflections in an OL' COOT'S EYE
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July 12-13-14, 2003 - Ensley Bottoms, Shelby Co. TN
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On Sunday morning at the Maxson Waste Water Treatment Plant, I was enjoying the tremendous influx of south bound shorebirds. It was the first big push of the season and had swelled the population of "Wind Birds" to over 2,000 and the species total to 15.
I noticed they had started to pump waste water into a pool that is usually kept dry. I knew that one of the many Black-necked Stilt pairs had a nest on this flat and I went by to check it out. This is a large pool and the water had just started into the end far from the nest so no water had reached it at that point. The nest was typical of the nests built on dry surfaces and was nothing more than a few pieces of debris with the eggs laying at ground level. The following photos document the Life Drama that unfolded.
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The photo on the left shows the nest on Saturday around noon. In the photo on the right, taken Sunday at noon, the water had reached the nest. The two adults had already brought the nest up about an inch or so. Due to the lack of near by material the birds had to venture far from the nest. Black-necked Stilts do not transport material to the nest, they only toss the material back over their shoulders and hopefully closer to the nest. By working back and forth the material eventually gets close enough for the bird on the nest to reach out and collect and then tuck it under the eggs. I have seen this process used to raise a nest 6-8 inches in a very short time span.
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In the above photos you can see the male tucking the material under the eggs on the left and the photo on the right shows how they would stand over the eggs occasionally to shade them. They would check the eggs and then go back and help the mate toss material.
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This is the same nest on Monday morning, as you can see they have raised the eggs considerably above the water. Luckily they have since turned off the flow into this pit. The industry and diligence of the pair saved the eggs. You can see that they were still collecting material, just in case, and the male now sits on the nest tucking the material into place.
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In the photo on the left, the female has retaken the nest duties and you can see where the long bill and neck come in handy. I first started closely watching these birds, some 20 years ago, and when I saw them change places at the nest, I just figured the bird coming off the nest was so thrilled to be relieved that it just threw stuff up in the air for the hell of it. Then I noticed the birds after settling on the nest would look around and pick up these pieces and use them in the nest. They are not too accurate with the tossing but it evidently seems to get things done.
If you think this is neat, you ought to see the ritualized breeding antics they go through, down to a little kiss at the end to say thanks but that's another story.
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