Posted by Paul on May 17, 2004 at 07:40:36:
Wakodahatchee news: The much watched and photographed Black neck stilt eggs hatched on Friday last with three eggs being fertile. After a short time of waiting for "all the clan" to clean up and run a short head count (how long does it take a stilt to count to three?) the family removed themselves from the mud flat that was home and nest for four weeks plus and disappeared into the water plants of Wakodahatchee. And the good people of the water facility then allowed the water level to rise and the area is now under water. The "hatching experience " was seen and photographed by birders with varying degrees of success. Phone calls went out to all the regulars of the boardwalk alerting them to this unique event. Some, like me, were up at Merrit Island looking at Dunlins, and more stilt nests then I have ever seen before in one place. One, just 6 feet from the road edge going onto beach sector.
Photo by Carol Zeglen of stilt parents one week before the hatching as they stood guard and chased a Great blue Heron away.