Picture Of The Week 08-14-06

Stilt Sandpiper

Where: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge • Back Bay, VA

Equipment: Canon EOS D20 with 100-400mm Zoom L Series Lens with Image Stabilizer • Hand held

Exposure: Shutter Speed = 1/250 • Aperture = f 5.6 ( w/0.67 Bias) • Exposure Mode = Aperture Priority • Lens (Focal) Length = 235 mm • ISO = 100 • Aprox. Camera Distance = ~6 Feet • Date Shot: 07-22-06

Notes: This close-up was shot from such close range just after it was performing it's "broken wing act". I have witnessed other birds such as the American Woodcock and the Killdeer (most famous for this act) do this too. Several different species do this to defer the attention of what they feel is a threat to their nesting area or young. They usually allow the danger to get in fairly close while they flop around on the ground, make noise, and stick a wing out as if it were broken or injured. Then as the would be predator approaches, it would limp off in a direction away from its nest and eventually fly away. For some reason this bird did all that for a little while, but eventually sat still in one spot and did not fly off, allowing me to closely approach it. After it finally flew away, I looked around for a nest but did not find one.

©2006 Robert W. Schamerhorn. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.

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Stilt Sandpiper (No. 3099) - Size: 8" x 10" • Signed Print with 11" x 14" White Matte • S&H Included
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