Black-necked Stilt Steppin' Out

Only a Flamingo has longer legs in relation to its body size than the leggy Black-Necked Stilt. These guys are sure fun to watch wading!


I took this photo at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, aka the Gilbert Ponds. If you are ever in the Phoenix, AZ metro area and get the itch to go birding, I strongly recommend a visit! Being a groundwater recharge station, the lakes tend to be at all different depths which attracts everything from wading shorebirds that prefer shallow water such as this stilt here, to diving ducks in the deeper ponds. Best of all there are paths around each pond that allow close observation and photography of the bird life that abounds here. Nearly 200 species have been recorded! To learn more see: http://www.riparianinstitute.org/ ( http://www.riparianinstitute.org/ )

Blacknecked StiltHimantopus mexicanusCHARADRIIFORMESRECURVIROSTRIDAEBirdBirdingOrnithologyShorebirdAZPhoenixNatureWildlifeWadingReflectionWaterMirrorNikonD300GilbertRiparian Preserve at Water RanchGilbert Ponds2012AStiltStiltsMichael Menefee