*Oology is a branch of ornithology studying bird eggs, nests and breeding behaviour. The word is derived from the Greek oion, meaning egg.
35. Black-necked Stilt
This part of the Stanislaus Audubon Website is focused on 44 common Central Valley nesting species with background about their nesting habits. Please check the Great Valley Museum Central Valley Egg Collection starting page for links to all the featured species.
BLACK-NECKED STILT NESTING INFORMATION (From birdsoftheworld.org)
Nests - Nest scrape in soft substrate of alkali flat, dike or island. Often over water on small islands or vegetation clumps. Either sex scrapes with breast and feet while mate observes nearby; then tosses small pieces of lining materials over its back. Adds lining throughout incubation, particularly when mates switch incubating. If water rises, nests are built up by both sexes sticking pieces of dead vegetation beneath the nest lining.
Eggs - Pyriform, Base color Tawny Olive to Light Drab, occasionally as dark as Sayal Brown. Surface speckled and mottled to varying degrees in 2 layers of intensity: underlying markings Army Brown to Natal Brown ; overlying markings Sepia or Vandyke Brown. Clutch size usually 4.
Incubation - 26 days (range 24–29) Both sexes take turns incubating day or night.
Fledging - Chicks precocial and downy; dry and able to leave nest within 1–2 h, but walk awkwardly for first day. Chicks stay in nest not >24 h after hatching of last chick.
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