{"id":138556,"date":"2023-06-29T06:08:38","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T12:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=138556"},"modified":"2023-06-29T06:12:48","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T12:12:48","slug":"baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Bird Bonanza At Bear River MBR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>And the skirmishes that break out when adult birds think their kids need protecting.<\/p>\n<p>It’s that time of year when baby birds are busting out all over Bear River MBR. When they’re very young most of them stay hidden in the vegetation but two days ago I spotted a fair number of them of various ages. Following are some of the photos I got documenting their presence. Most of them are only of documentary quality but who can resist baby birds, no matter the quality of the photos (up to a point).<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138568\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,522\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"5.6","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687873757","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0003125","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"pied-billed grebe 7781 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley-300x174.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138568 size-full\" title=\"pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley-768x445.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pied-billed-grebe-7781-ron-dudley-150x87.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>An adult Pied-billed Grebe with four chicks. The water was so ‘soupy’ all five birds had difficulty swimming through it as they moved away from me, with their backs to me of course. This is as close as I came to getting a broadside view of several of them.<\/p>\n<p><em>This photo needs some clockwise rotation. Too late for that now.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138566\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687875341","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.0004","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"black-necked stilt 8368 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138566 size-full\" title=\"black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Three young Black-necked Stilts partially hidden in the vegetation. Eventually one of them…<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138567\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687875364","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.0004","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"black-necked stilt 8373 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138567 size-full\" title=\"black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8373-ron-dudley-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>came more out in the open.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138558\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"5.6","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687874387","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0002","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american avocet 7943 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138558 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7943-ron-dudley-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A nearby and slightly younger American Avocet chick near the end of a wing stretch.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138559\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"5.6","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687874423","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0002","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american avocet 7968 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138559 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7968-ron-dudley-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Both avocet parents stood guard as their offspring were foraging nearby. The adults often looked like they were sleeping but they always kept their eye on their kids.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p>For weeks I’ve been watching avocet and stilt nests in this area of the refuge. The nests of both species are quite close to each other, which means that there are often aggressive interactions between adult stilts and avocets (and other species too). Those skirmishes become even more frequent after their chicks hatch and begin to wander. Neither species of adult birds is comfortable with having adults of the other species close to their chicks, so noisy and aggressive warfare is often the rule rather than the exception.<\/p>\n<p>Following is a case in point.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138557\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"720,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687874436","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.00025","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american avocet 7879 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley-240x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138557 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7879-ron-dudley-120x150.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The avocet at the bottom of the frame (the male I believe) took exception when the stilt got too close to his chicks so he aggressively pursued the stilt (both birds had chicks in the area). At first the stilt flew away from the pursuing avocet but…<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138560\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687874442","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0003125","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american avocet 7990 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley-300x240.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138560 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7990-ron-dudley-350x280.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>when the avocet gave up the chase and curled around to land next to his mate, the stilt turned around in flight and came after both avocets. Apparently turnabout is fair play.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138561\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687874442","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.00025","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american avocet 7992 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley-300x240.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138561 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7992-ron-dudley-350x280.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As the stilt got closer it lowered its legs and both avocets began to…<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138562\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687874442","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.00025","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american avocet 7993 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley-300x240.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138562 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-7993-ron-dudley-350x280.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>duck in order to avoid any contact. I’m not sure how much damage those spindly legs and feet could do but the avocets clearly wanted to avoid them. From my photos I couldn’t tell for sure if there was any contact, but if there wasn’t it was very close.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138563\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687874483","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.00025","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american avocet 8006 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138563 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-avocet-8006-ron-dudley-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Immediately after the altercation, both adult avocets walked back to keep a close eye on their youngsters.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p>OK, I’ll end today’s post by announcing the official winner of the refuge’s Ugliest Baby Contest.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138564\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687872044","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0004","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american coot 7645 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138564 size-full\" title=\"american-coot-7645-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-7645-ron-dudley-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It wasn’t even a horse race. American Coot chicks almost look like they were designed to leave the competition behind.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"138565\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"RON DUDLEY","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687875138","copyright":"","focal_length":"700","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0003125","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"american coot 8256 ron dudley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138565 size-full\" title=\"american-coot-8256-ron-dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/american-coot-8256-ron-dudley-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here’s another one I found a little while later but baby coot #1 had to be the ultimate winner, in my opinion.<\/p>\n<p>Ron<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>And the skirmishes that break out when adult birds think their kids need protecting. (12 photos)<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/baby-bird-bonanza-at-bear-river-mbr\/\"><span>Continue reading<\/span><i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138566,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[381,1051,338,334,708,394,391,359],"tags":[27,1052,6988,705,740,6990,251,6989],"class_list":["post-138556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-avocets","category-american-coots","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge-favorite-locations","category-birds","category-black-necked-stilts","category-fighting-bird-behaviors","category-nesting-and-mating","category-pied-billed-grebes","tag-american-avocet","tag-american-coot","tag-baby-birds-at-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","tag-black-necked-stilt","tag-chicks","tag-fight-between-avocets-and-stilts","tag-pied-billed-grebe","tag-ugliest-baby-contest"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/black-necked-stilt-8368-ron-dudley.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1zzJh-A2M","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138556"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138622,"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138556\/revisions\/138622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}