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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Photo Gallery 相片分享 I >>  Pied Avocets courtship behavior
        
(Message started by: Neil on Apr 29^th, 2006, 5:40pm)

Title: Pied Avocets courtship behavior
Post by Neil on Apr 29^th, 2006, 5:40pm

On Thursday afternoon I watched the avocets at pond #16/17 until sunset as there was a "lot of love" in the air. The birds were pairing up everywhere and mating throughout the day and it seemed to be initiated by the females. Here is a digiscoped series showing the mating display. She has her head down low and her bottom up in the air while the male feeds next to her and grooms himself closeby.Neil

MPNR,
Hong Kong,
China.
27/04/06

Olympus 7070wz plus Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw 30x eyepiece and DCA adpater.

http://www.pbase.com/neilfif11/image/59359739.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/neilfif11/image/59359738.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/neilfif11/image/59359735.jpg

Title: Re: Pied Avocets courtship behavior
Post by World Cup 2006 on Apr 29^th, 2006, 10:02pm

Oh, thanks for the series and explanation.

I also saw similar behaviour of the bird but I thought she was trying to look into the water better. ;D

Title: Re: Pied Avocets courtship behavior
Post by Little Dolphin on Apr 30^th, 2006, 12:15am

on 04/29/06 at 17:40:58, Neil wrote:

The birds were pairing up everywhere and mating throughout the day  and it seemed to be initiated by the females.

Very interesting finding. I thought it's usually the males that approach the ladies first when finding partners. Perhaps it's different in the actual mating process?