Avocet Beak Cross
by Judi Dressler
Title
Avocet Beak Cross
Artist
Judi Dressler
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
These two American Avocets were a couple, and were following each other around the shallow lake. Finally I got to see and photograph them mating, which for avocets, involves a whole ritual. First the female gives the signal that she's ready, by bending down low with her chin touching or in the water. She stays in that position while the male walks around her, preening himself a little, splashing some water on her, but otherwise seeming to ignore what she's doing. Then he jumps on her and mates. As soon as he jumps off, they do a beak cross, as in this photo, and then they often walk side by side for a short distance. Altogether very lovely and fascinating!
The American Avocet's long, upturned bill and elegant profile stand out among the other wading birds. Around lake shores and tidal flats, especially in the wide-open spaces of the west, American Avocets wade in shallow wetlands with little vegetation to hide them, filtering tiny food items from just below the surface. They nest in areas almost lacking vegetation altogether. They breed around wetlands in dry parts of interior North America, but during the winter, many of them head to coastal lagoons, salt ponds, and mudflats.
Photo taken April 21, 2022, in Louisville, Colorado.
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Tied for 1st Place in FAA's Show Me Birds Contest on 1/8/2023
Tied for 1st Place in FAA's All Colorado Logo contest on 6/30/2022
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Descriptive tags and keywords for this image include avocets, american avocets, avocet, couple, mating, courting, spring, love, flirting, crossing beaks, crossed beaks, crossed bills, bill cross, crossing bills, shorebirds, male and female, in love, wetlands, recurvirostra, recurvirostridae, pond, lake, water, elegant, long bill, shore, birds, colorado, aves, avian, nature, wild, wildlife, judi dressler, and dressler.
Uploaded
April 25th, 2022
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Comments (71)
Annettes Whimsies
CoNgRaTs Judi, it is my pleasure to FEATURE your wonderful Wildlife photograph/artwork on the homepage of “Colorado Wildlife” 💕 Add your artwork to the ‘Feature Image Archive for May - August 2023’ under the discussion tab.
Wendy Wilton
Well deserved win in the Love Is In The Air Contest Judi. A lovely image, great to have been there just at the right time. Wendy
Cindy's Creative Corner
Congratulations on placing 1st in the "Love is in the Air' Contest. You will be featured on my website in April. You can check the below links to see where your winning submission has been shared. Thank you for sharing your art with us! Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/676997310033705 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cindyscreativitycorner Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/CNEWBY03
Marilyn DeBlock
Beautiful capture! Congrats on your 1st place win in the Love is in the Air contest - voted!
Carol Lowbeer
Fabulous image, Judi! Congrats on your 1st place win in "Love is In the Air" contest - which is well-deserved!
Morris Finkelstein
Fabulous close up photo of an Avocet pair, Judi! Congratulations on your First Place in the Show Me Birds contest! F/L
AnnaJo Vahle
Congratulations on your first place win in SHOW ME BIRDS, Judi. Fabulous photography and fascinating description. Bravo! f
RAY WHITT
Congratulations on your first place finish in the "Show Mw Birds" contest, Judi. This is a wonderful image!
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