When I first started my bird photography journey on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge auto tour route many years ago, the very first bird I encountered and photographed was the quirky but strikingly beautiful American avocet.
I can still remember that exact moment vividly, in fact, as it’s still framed in my mind as if it just happened yesterday.
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It was a hot, dry summer day and American avocets were easily found wading in the shallows along the dusty refuge road in search of food, and similar to many other birders I’m most certain, I was instantly drawn to them with their peculiarly shaped beaks and cream colored plumage.
My initial reaction was they were such unique and interesting birds, to say the least, with their quirky mannerisms and creamy neck plumage and, fast forward many years later, I am proud to say I’m still just as fond of them to this very day.
There are days I will purposely stop along the refuge auto loop and just watch avocets feeding or tending to their nest, losing track of time and even interest in other birds for a spell or two.
In fact, one particular stretch on the east leg of the auto loop where I photographed my first American avocets I have since named, and still refer to it as by the way, as “avocet pond”.
This past summer was one of those times when time stood still as I stopped and watched avocets along the refuge roadway, but this time, however, it wasn’t a peaceful setting, not by a long shot.
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A most chaotic moment on the auto tour route began to brew as a few pairs of American avocets and black-necked stilts were teaming up and both fiercely defending their nests against a pair of intruding sandhill cranes that had casually wandered through the area looking for a meal.
Honestly, up until that very moment, I had no idea American avocets were so fiercely protective of their nesting space, especially against a much bigger and quite formidable foe like the sandhill crane, but each avocet was obviously determined to do all it could to defend its nest.
Sandhill cranes are omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of plants and animals such as grains, seeds, tubers, insects, rodents, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and even young birds and eggs when they can be found.
Yes, sandhill cranes will eat nestling birds and eggs if they can find them, which is why the American avocets and black-necked stilts were so determined to defend their territory and chase the cranes away as soon as possible.
The chaos and commotion lasted for about 10 minutes, maybe longer, but eventually the sandhill cranes moved on as they slowly but surely left the area, searching for food with every step along the way.
(American avocets defending their nests from sandhill cranes. For short nature photography tips and interesting stories about the natural world around us, subscribe to our Bear River Blogger channel on YouTube for videos and updates from our travels while out in nature, both on and off of the famed Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.)
I had seen avocets and stilts squabble over a small patch of real estate, and I’ve even seen avocets briefly chase a duck or two away, but up until that very day, I had never seen American avocets fiercely harass a pair of wandering sandhill cranes until they were safely and surely out of the avocets’ nesting territory.
Moments like this are why I never get tired of birdwatching.
There is always something new to watch and learn if you just spend some time in nature.
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