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As I stood up to look around, the mock attack started all over again. The stilts flew up from behind some dead mangroves on the edge of the mud flat. The nests were not visible from where I was standing, but I could see some small mounds arising from the mud flat indicating nests might occupy some of these mounds. Realizing my presence was upsetting the birds I continued my walk. Soon I was around a bend on the dike and peace was again restored. With a black and white body scarcely fifteen inches long including the bill, and extremely long pink colored legs, the black-necked stilt can't be mistaken for any other bird. Add to this the harlequin like head markings and a bill shaped like a rapier, the appearance of the stilt will pique the curiosity of any person who sees it for the first time. The adult stilts usually arrive in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in March and April. They usually arrive in pairs, this fact combined with a very minor color change that occurs during breeding, suggests that the stilts may mate for life. Nesting activity generally starts in mid May ending by mid June. |
The stilts may nest in groups, as the hiker experienced or solitary, which is usually the case. Open areas of shallow water with small islands nearby, is the stilts preference as nest sites.
Rising water will wipe out this nest! |
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