I added this shorebird to my life list earlier this month while on a birding trip in southern Alberta. The day started out looking less than promising as rain and thunderstorms were forecast for south-eastern Alberta. Despite heading out just after sunrise and covering a lot of territory, my bird encounters were rather few and far between until mid afternoon. I had just entered the Siksika First Nations lands when I spotted a mated pair of Black-necked Stilts, foraging in a small prairie wetland slough located approximately 50 meters off a secondary highway. Surveying the surrounding area I noticed an access road leading through a natural grassland directly adjacent to the water body. A small stand of Willows provided just enough cover to allow me to approach the birds without disturbing them. After waiting a short time the birds began moving towards me as they foraged in the shallow foreshore areas. Needless to say I spent several hours photographing the birds foraging, and even managed a few flight shots when 2 very curious dogs suddenly approached the birds. The entire session lasted about 2 hours during which I also managed to photograph several pairs of Wilson’s Phalaropes and American Avocets that were sharing the habitat.
I was preparing to leave when I noticed a rather large brownish coloured bird fly over and land near a distant bull rush covered foreshore. Grabbing my binoculars I focused in on the bird and discovered to my utter amazement that it was a White-faced Ibis. These birds have a very narrow range that just barely extends into the lower southern areas of Alberta. Although the Ibis failed to approach my location, I did manage to get several frames of the bird foraging along and amidst the bull rushes. Having added 2 new species to my life list in one day certainly proved to be an exciting and rewarding experience.
Black-necked Stilt:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Species: Himantopus mexicanus
This tall, slender, elegant black-and-white shorebird is an unmistakable and familiar sight at ponds and lagoons in the western and southern US as well as the southern Canadian prairies. Stilts hold the avian record for the longest legs relative to body size, and they often cross their trailing feet in flight (see photo). They often share wetland habitats with American Avocets.
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Species: Himantopus mexicanus
This tall, slender, elegant black-and-white shorebird is an unmistakable and familiar sight at ponds and lagoons in the western and southern US as well as the southern Canadian prairies. Stilts hold the avian record for the longest legs relative to body size, and they often cross their trailing feet in flight (see photo). They often share wetland habitats with American Avocets.
The Black-necked Stilt is a study in contrasts. Bold black and white bodies balanced on incredibly long reddish-pink legs, long black bill and big red eyes; make them unmistakable amongst other shorebirds.
Foraging behavior involves wadding gracefully through shallow wetlands and flooded fields, and using their height and excellent vision to scan for small invertebrate prey. Stilts also forage tactically feeling for prey by sweeping their sensitive bills through the water.
They breed around marshes, shallow grassy ponds, lake margins and man-made water-bodies. They also use similar habitats during migration and winter. Breeding takes place in small colonies, with several pairs sharing the same site. They tend to be gregarious by nature, and often roost together near shallow water bodies.
Their vision and alertness enables them to quickly spot and react to predators. When disturbed during the breeding season however, all semblance of grace disappears. Agitated stilts yap incessantly, dive at predators, and feign mortal injuries (see photo). In the presence of predators, stilts quickly flock together as one intimidating black-and-white mass. This defense strategy is so effective that birds of other species often try to join the flock.
Vocalizations: Flight and alarm calls are loud, continuous poodle-like yip-yip-yip, given in a long series when alarmed.
(Check out an excellent narrated video by clicking on the Bird Note link at the end of the blog)
Nesting: Simple scrape lined with grass in soft soil; 4 eggs; 1 brood in April-May.
Feeding: As described above.
(Check out an excellent narrated video by clicking on the Bird Note link at the end of the blog)
Nesting: Simple scrape lined with grass in soft soil; 4 eggs; 1 brood in April-May.
Feeding: As described above.
