Bird lore - Project Puffin

Black -necked Stilt 395
parently have been either killed or driven elsewhere. Mr. Witmer Stone in his
book, 'The Birds of New Jersey,' gives but a single record of the Stilt having
been seen in that state during the past fifty years; this one was shot by a
gunner at Stone Harbor, April 27, 1894. The Stilt seems equally rare at other
points along the Atlantic coast. In Eaton's 'Birds of New York,' the author
relates that "the latest New York specimens were taken fifty or sixty years
ago on Long Island, some of which are now in the State Museum, the Ameri-
can Museum, and the collection of the Long Island Historical Society." I
know of only one record for North Carolina during the past twenty years.
A specimen was shot at Nag's Head in Dare County, North Carolina, in June,
1900, and is today preserved in the Museum of Trinity College at Durham,
North Carolina. Mr. Arthur T. Wayne, who has been studying the bird-life
on the coast of South Carolina for nearly forty years, records in his book on the
birds of the state that the only Black-necked Stilts he ever saw in that terri-
tory were on Sullivan Island about the middle of May, 1881. He expresses a
belief that the four birds he saw had nests in the neighborhood of a small
fresh-water pond they were inhabiting.
In southern Florida Stilts may still be met with for they breed not uncommonly
in many districts, from Cape Canaveral southward through the penin-
sula and the keys. On a key near Cape Sable Bent and Job found nests with
fresh eggs on May 8, 1903. In his 'Birds of Eastern North America' C. J.
Maynard wrote of the Florida Stilts he studied:
"As may readily be inferred from a glance at the birds, the Black-necked Stilts run
very rapidly, but in the midst of their career they will pause suddenly, bend their long
legs, and pick up something from the ground, then oflf again after more food. Their
favorite method of feeding, however, is to wade in the shallow pools, often becoming
submerged to the body, and I have frequently seen them wading in this manner among
flocks of Ducks, consisting of several species. When alarmed while in the water they
will raise their long wings and rise as lightly as if on the land, and scjuat quietly down in
groups, but each individual faces the wind, especially if it be blowing hard. They are not
shy birds, as a rule, allowing one to approach within a few yards, and if the intruder go
too near they will give a bow or two as if balancing themselves, then rise with a harsh
scream which becomes continuous when they are badly frightened."
They are common birds in many of the Bahama Islands. Mr. J. H. Riley,
writing in The Auk for October, 1905: observes: "Almost every small pond
or island mud-flat seemed to have a few pairs wading around with stately
tread until the intruder was sighted, when their infernal racket began."
In May, 1916, I found the Stilts on the Louisiana marshes between Avery
Island and the Gulf of Mexico. Anticipating a visit to this territory I had
expressed a hope to my friend and prospective host, Mr. E. A. Mcllhenny, that
he would pilot me to the nesting-grounds of these curious and ridiculously
long-legged birds. Upon arriving there I was assured that this wish would
be granted, as he had instructed one of the guards on the Ward-
Mcllhenny Wild Life Reservation to begin three days before to search for a