AVOCETS AND STILTS: Family Recurvirostridae [ 2.69 ] 



central Oregon has had some comment to make about this striking bird. 

 It is most abundant about the small alkaline ponds between Klamath 

 Falls and the California line, at Abert, Summer, and the Warner Lakes 

 in Lake County, about Malheur Lake and the smaller ponds in both the 

 Silvies and Blitzen Valleys in Harney County, and about the Cow Creek 

 Lakes in Malheur County. In addition, one or more pairs will be found 

 about many of the smaller lakes and ponds in these counties. Its earliest 

 date of arrival is April 5 (Klamath County); latest fall date, October 9 

 (Lake County). Aside from the counties in which it is found breeding, 

 Oregon records of this bird are scarce. Woodcock (1902.) reported two 

 specimens from near Corvallis on July 2.9, 1900, the only record for the 

 western part of the State. There are two records of its occurrence in 

 Wallowa County: one was killed and mounted at the fish hatchery near 

 Enterprise some time prior to 192.7; and later a pair of wings taken by 

 a game warden from a bird killed in the county was sent to us for identi- 

 fication. 



In Oregon the nests are usually built in the edge of the short scant 

 grass of the alkaline flats and are mere depressions, lined more or less with 

 bits of dry vegetation (Plate 42., A). They are occasionally built so close 

 to the water level that a heavy rain floods them, forcing the birds to 

 move to higher ground for a second nesting. The eggs are laid in late 

 May or early June (May 12. and June 2.5, extreme dates), and the long- 

 legged youngsters are able to run about within a few hours after hatch- 

 ing, which occurs in mid-June. 



The large size, the striking black, white, and chestnut color pattern, 

 and the long, upturned bill serve to differentiate the Avocets from all 

 other waders found within the State. In the fall the chestnut color of 

 the head and neck is replaced by white, leaving the birds with a strictly 

 black and white pattern. Nesting in the short grass and spending most 

 of the time along the edges of the shallow pools, they are one of the 

 most conspicuous marsh birds. When aroused by the presence of an in- 

 truder at the nests, they fly about in frantic circles, sweeping down with 

 their long bills pointed straight ahead and continuously uttering low, 

 piercing cries. At other times they are rather silent and spend their time 

 feeding quietly near the shore line or resting in small companies on the 

 mud flats. The upturned bill, a clumsy-looking affair, is an appropriate 

 tool for use in feeding in the shallow water. The bird walks or runs 

 forward, with the bill plowing the water and scooping up the aquatic 

 larvae and other food. 



Black-necked Stilt: 



Himantofus mexicanus (Muller) 



DESCRIPTION. "Bill black, feet and legs pinkish. Adult male: back of head and 

 neck, shoulders, and wings greenish black; tail gray; rest of plumage white, breast 



