Avocet by Ken _Gilliland

Vue • Animals • posted on Nov 10, 2009

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Description

The American Avocet is found in shallow fresh and saltwater wetlands along both coasts of North America. It forages in shallow water or on mud flats, often sweeping its bill from side to side in water in search of crustaceans and insects. This avocet has long, thin, gray legs, giving it its colloquial name, "blue shanks". In response to predators, the American Avocet sometimes issues a series of call notes that gradually changes pitch, simulating the Doppler Effect and thus making its approach seem faster than it actually is. A female American Avocet may lay one to four eggs in the nest of another female, who then incubates the eggs. American Avocets may parasitize other species' nests too; single American Avocet eggs have been found in the nests of Mew Gulls. Other species may also parasitize avocet nests. Avocets have incubated mixed clutches of their own eggs and those of Common Terns or Black-necked Stilts. The avocets reared the stilt hatchlings as if they were their own. Rendered in Vue 7.5i with no postwork. Models: Grasses & Still waters (Martin Frost/Cornucopia) and of course, the Avocet from upcoming Shorebirds 3 (me/DAZ)