Posted by Paul-the -other, not L, not B on May 01, 2004 at 14:14:26:
A black necked stilt is sitting on eggs at Wakodahatchee. Her position is somewhat perilous as she is on a small mud flat about 15 by 5 feet with no cover. Deep water is around her on 4 sides and alligators are oni-present. Five immature and 4 mature Great Blues are about the same area and often approach the nest. The clammer from these two stilts is something to behold as they fly about hazing the GBs. The male stilt is slow to respond to the females warning calls and it really appears that having babies for this pair is reserved to the inexperienced!
There is a large group of TAS-boarders and others present and many are photographing this nest which now has much local appeal as the GB's are all fledged (even though other nests are now under production). The question is: Can this pair of stilts pull off a successful nesting operation before a) the water table rises and floods them, b) the Great Blue pushes in and destroys the nest, c) a red-shouldered hawk takes advantage of the mothers dedication to sitting, d)an alligator destroys the nest, e) all of the above
So if you life events has never included the drama of a nesting stilt...go to Wakodahatchee ASAP...in a day or two it may be all over. Hope not. But that's the way it is in the jungle!