[MDOsprey] Black-necked Stilts confirmed breeding in Dorchester Co., MD

MHoff36100@aol.com
Fri, 9 Jul 1999 20:32:34 EDT


Norm, I hope this makes you happy...

I remember of few posts this spring about Black-necked Stilts along the 
Elliott Island Road in Dorchester County, but I don't remember the details...

I happen to be in the Fishing Bay WMA area working Thursday (7/8/99), and 
observed a pair of Black-necked Stilts with 2 downy young (maybe 7-8 inches 
tall). The birds were in a marsh pond west of the Elliott Island Road, about 
0.1 miles N of the first building (on the east side of the road) out in the 
marsh. Coming S from Henry's Crossroads, there are two place were Island 
Creek comes very close to the paved road, with new wooden guard rail in each 
spot. At the next spot were Island Creek comes close to the road, there is a 
wide gravel area on the west side of the road that is used as a makeshift 
boat ramp. The birds were seen from here. The marsh pond was beyond (west) 
the channel of Island Creek. A little farther on there is a building of the 
east side of the road. There were a dozen Least Sandpiper in the same area.

I don't remember if this species has been documented as breeding in 
Dorchester before. It's great that they are expanding out of their Deal 
Island stronghold.

Mark Hoffman
Mhoff36100@aol.com