Center frame, a Black-necked Stilt sits on a nest, close to the water. From Allaboutbirds.org., Black-necked Stilts nest on the ground. They tend to build on surfaces above water, such as small islands, clumps of vegetation, or even, occasionally, floating mats of algae. Both female and male choose the site; they look for places with soft sand or other substrate that can be scraped away to form the nesting depression. The nests are often set among vegetation stubble adjacent to water or on dikes, islands, or high spots with sparse vegetation such as glasswort and saltgrass.
Center frame, black-necked stilt stood guard over the area their mate was nesting, to ensure nothing comes to disturb them. I was yelled at several times and I was at least 10 yards away on a boardwalk, looking down at them.
Happy Two-for Tuesday friends... two photos this morning of a Black-necked Stilt family, one on the nest and the other keeping guard. Am excited to watch this family grow in the ensuing weeks. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #LucasCounty #HowardMarshWestMetropark