Beautiful Black-necked Stilts are Breeding!

Black-necked Stile, male

Black-necked Stilt, female

The Black-necked Stilts are nesting at the Bailey Tract on Sanibel, FL. The female (brown back) took a break from incubating to feed and the male sat on the nest, then the female returned and resumed incubating. These beautiful shorebirds breed in the shallow water of marshes, ponds, fields, and impoundments in coastal areas of some of the eastern half of the country and in some coastal and inland areas of the western half of the country. Even though there are plans to fill in one of the ponds in the Bailey Tract to create more marsh, we hope it it after these wonderful birds are through breeding.

Black-necked Stilts Have Returned!

Black-necked Stilt, female

Black-necked Stilt, male

These beautiful Black-necked Stilts have just returned to their breeding grounds in FL. The female has a brown back and male has a black back as you can see in these photos. Their habitat is shallow water of marshes, fields and impoundments and they breed along coastal areas and in much of the West.  They nest on the ground. Look for them returning to your area.

Black-necked Stilts just arrived, Sanibel, FL

Black-necked Stilts, male in front, female behind

Black-ncked Stilt, male

They have recently returned from migration here on Sanibel Island, FL. Male and female look alike except the female has a slightly browner back than the male. The sweet pair in the first photo was making themselves at home at the Bailey Tract, part of Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel. They breed in much of the West and up the East Coast. Such dramatic birds and a treat to see.