AVOCET 
211 
225. American Avocet. l’avocette d’am^rique. Recurvirostra atnericana. L, 
16-50. A very large and striking shore bird. Head, neck, and breast, warm vinaceous- 
pink, lightening to white about eyes, base of bill, and at base of hindneck, blending into 
white on abdomen and flanks. Closed wings and centre of back nearly black, separated by 
broad line of white. Rump and tail white. Wing coverts, outer edge of tertiaries, and 
inner secondaries, broadly edged with white, making white bar on wing in flight. Legs 
very long, and pale plumbeous blue. Bill long, very slender, and turned up (Figure 305). 
All plumages are practically the same. 
Avocet; scale, 
Distinctions. With size, striking coloration, and long, delicate, recurved bill, the 
Avocet cannot be mistaken for any other bird. 
Field Marks. Recognizable by size and remarkable coloration at almost any distance. 
Nesting. On the ground, near alkali sloughs. 
Distribution. Central North America. Breeding on the prairies from the western 
Manitoba boundary to the mountains, more common in the southern parts and the United 
.States. Occasional records for western Manitoba, and two records from southern British 
Columbia. 
This showy and wonderfully graceful bird is characteristic of the 
alkaline lakes and pools of the arid prairies. Seen with its delicately blended 
pink and white coloration, accented by black, on a snowy, alkali- 
encrusted shore, against deep blue water, it makes a sight that lingers long 
in the memory. It is not an uncommon bird in certain localities, but how 
long it will remain so is a matter of some concern to all lovers of the beauti- 
ful. Large and showy birds do not thrive in close proximity to settled 
communities and the scale is turning daily a little more against it, together 
with the Long-billed Curlew, the Marbled Godwit, and the Willet. Their 
nests are being trampled by cattle, seeking the moisture of the shrinking 
pools, their habitat being broken up into wheat fields, and the lakes and 
pools that are essential to their existence are being drained or are drying 
up. These are unavoidable circumstances and we would not prevent 
them altogether, even if we could, for they are but the necessary con- 
comitants of the making of productive acres. However, even under the 
fullest development of the country there will still remain waste land to 
harbour a certain number of these attractive waders, but when they have 
also to contend with even a small amount of unnecessary disturbance or 
thoughtless poaching the result is easily foreseen. Today, it is only in the 
lonelier localities that Avocets remain in appreciable numbers and these 
places are becoming progressively fewer and more restricted. Under the 
Migratory Birds Convention Act, a constant close season has been declared 
on these and similar birds, but unless its terms are fully supported in spirit 
as well as letter and by public conscience as well as law enforcement, the 
prairies will soon lose some of their brightest and most interesting features. 
There is one particular circumstance in the Avocet/s favour. By 
nature and preference it inhabits those alkaline areas that are of least 
agricultural value. That this is but a partial and not complete protection 
is shown by its appreciable but steady decline in numbers throughout the 
last decade. England regrets the loss of her Avocets; it is to be hoped 
that Canada will profit by her experience. 
