Number Two

American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana

One of my first blog entries last winter included a list of my ten favorite birds. Number two was the American Avocet. I love the upward sweep of the ultra-thin bill. Take a look at the bird's scientific name above. Do you see the word, "recurve," in the genus name? That seems appropriate, doesn't it? I don't get to see these birds every day, but there are some around central South Dakota all summer. If I poke around in the right habitat I can find a few. Sometimes they surprise me, though, and pop up when I least expect them. I took this photo by the side of a busy highway last week while driving to work.