In a message dated 5/11/2004 12:04:59 AM Central Standard Time, jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx writes: (1) Carol Williams posted on TN-Birds, Sat, 8 May 2004, that Judy Fuson found a pair of Black-necked Stilts working a pond on Student's Home Road in DeKalb County, Smithville (east of Nashville). THIS IS THE FIRST SPRING RECORD FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE ? Carol has photos of these birds. (2) Two at Rankin Bottom, Cocke County, 8 May 2004 by Tracey Muise, Charlie Muise, Leslie Gibbens, Michael Sledjeski and Linda Wright. FIRST SPRING RECORD FOR EAST TENNESSEE. Did Carol have a pair (male and female) or just two Black-necked Stilt? Was any attempt made to sex the 2 birds at Rankin Bottom? When reporting birds, I think sexing and aging are important and if possible that should be part of any posting. Sexing Black-necked Stilts is usually straight forward in that the black on the male is solid and usually glossy where on the female there is a rust tint to the black. The males usually have richer reddish legs where females are slightly paler. The legs are especially red during breeding on the male but can be almost as red on females during that time. The breeding ritual of this species is worth watching for and is indicated by the behavior of the two birds. They will start feeding closer together and there is a slight but noticeable difference in their feeding style that precedes their mating ritual. The female will stop and assume a head down and tail raise position, freezing in about a 60 degree angle with bill in line with the body. The male may start vocalizing and will take a position directly next to the female and start to mock preen and splash the water with its bill. It will walk around to the rear, never in front, and do the same on the other side. ( the stilts in Australia are not as polite and circle the female) I've seen males do this 4 to 5 times before he walks to the rear and mounts the back of the female and stands only slightly crouched to balance. You are talking about a tall stack of birds at this time. Copulation is quick. The grand finale is the dismount, the male assumes a position beside the female, they both stretch up to full height even seem to stand on their toes and then always politely cross their bills. Pretty neat stuff. I have the complete ritual on photos and will put it together on the net one day if I ever get all my stuff straighten back up and re-scanned. Remember sex and age what birds you can. It makes these reports more useful when others search for the reported birds and adds a facet to birding just as noting distribution, etc., as Wallace has mentioned. Good Birding!!! Jeff R. Wilson OL'COOT / TLBA Bartlett, TN =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ========================================================