H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

The following photo sequence was shot during my last trip to Peru. One day I wandered around a swampy area and muddy marshes. I knew that these areas give refuge and are preferred habitats for not only local birds but migratory also.

Of course I saw all kinds of species, but in this case I will tell you about a little Black-necked Stilt the I found at the edge of a drying marsh.

Marshes usually begin to dry out at the beginning of Summer in the Peruvian coast.

The region of the Pacific Coast of Peru, from the tip to the bottom of the geographical territory is mostly deserts. Thousands of square miles with absolutely no water, some deserts haven’t had rain in over a century.

Lost chick Black-necked Stilt

Well, this little bird looked lost and kept calling and calling and walking with no intended direction. I followed him for a while. The call of the Black-necked Stilt sounds like a puppy dog’s barking. After a while I heard more barking at the other side of the marsh! There I saw three other barking birds, not long after that the lost bird was reunited with his family. It was a great moment, I remember it because I could see this little bird poignant effort to run across and meet his family.

Text and photographs © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101