{"id":4689,"date":"2012-03-29T04:00:59","date_gmt":"2012-03-29T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=4689"},"modified":"2025-09-11T14:39:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T19:39:18","slug":"long-billed-curlews-i-heard-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/03\/29\/long-billed-curlews-i-heard-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Long-billed Curlews… I Heard You!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MaleMale Long-billed Curlew all fluffed up – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday started off a bit cloudy so we got a late start heading out to Antelope Island to see what birds we could find. There weren’t many along the causeway except for ducks and coots that always seem take off as soon a vehicle slows down near them.<\/p>\n

I did see a Northern Harrier with nesting material in its talons and that made me hope that I’d be able to locate a pair of them building a nest. That isn’t as easy as it sounds.<\/p>\n

Once on the island there were some Red-winged Blackbirds that wouldn’t stay still long enough to focus on them and a Chukar that slipped down the side of a rock after I had taken just one frame. Things were looking like they were going to be slow… again.<\/p>\n

\"PreeningPreening Long-billed Curlew – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

None of the Loggerhead Shrikes were close enough to photograph so I pulled up to where some Black-billed Magpies have been busy nest building for the past several weeks. The thing is that there are often 15 to 20 minute intervals between the birds bringing in nesting materials. So I usually sit there waiting.<\/p>\n

But not today<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

I hadn’t been there three minutes when I heard a distinctive call and I knew immediately what the sound was. I glanced up towards the sky and saw a very familiar shape winging its way towards me, then I saw another not too far behind.<\/p>\n

The Long-billed Curlews have returned to their breeding grounds! I would have jumped for joy but when you are inside a vehicle that can lead to a severe headache after hitting your skull on the roof. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Long-billedLong-billed Curlew wing lift – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn’t long before I could see and hear several other pairs flying around in the sky and calling. I know I have said it before but it really is a sound you won’t forget after hearing it.<\/p>\n

I found a couple of pairs of curlews preening in the grasses and photographed them. I wish that the bird doing the wing lift in the photo above had been facing me but I take comfort in the fact that it is early in the season and there will be many more opportunities to catch that action.<\/p>\n

\"Long-billed\u00a0Long-billed Curlew in dried grasses – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1\/1600, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

For several weeks the cries of the Curlews will be heard over their breeding grounds and\u00a0their displays both in the air and in the grasses will be seen.<\/p>\n

It is great to have them back.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Long-billed Curlew photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) have returned to their breeding grounds! I would have jumped for joy but when you are inside a vehicle that can lead to a severe headache after hitting your skull on the roof. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":155418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,199,26],"tags":[58,4021,4083,4132,4133,274,30,4032],"class_list":["post-4689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-long-billed-curlews","category-utah","tag-antelope-island-sp","tag-bird-photography","tag-birding","tag-long-billed-curlew","tag-numenius-americanus","tag-shorebirds-2","tag-utah-2","tag-wildlife-photography"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/long-billed-curlew-mia-mcpherson-9391.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-1dD","jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":101253,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/03\/31\/spring-long-billed-curlew-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":4689,"position":0},"title":"Spring Long-billed Curlew Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 31, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I spotted and pointed out this Long-billed Curlew foraging and calling in the grasses of the north end of Antelope Island State Park.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Alert male Long-billed Curlew in soft morning light, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-6441.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-6441.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-6441.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-6441.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5008,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/05\/19\/long-billed-curlew-in-cheatgrass\/","url_meta":{"origin":4689,"position":1},"title":"Long-billed Curlew in Cheatgrass","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Cheatgrass is invasive but I sure think it can be pretty especially with a lovely bird amongst it like this male Long-billed Curlew that I photographed on Antelope Island State Park recently.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Long-billed Curlew in Cheatgrass, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-mia-mcpherson-3667.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-mia-mcpherson-3667.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-mia-mcpherson-3667.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-mia-mcpherson-3667.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8009,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/04\/02\/male-long-billed-curlew-lifting-off\/","url_meta":{"origin":4689,"position":2},"title":"Male Long-billed Curlew Lifting Off","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed this male Long-billed Curlew last week as he was starting to lift off.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Long-billed Curlew lifting off, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2819.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2819.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2819.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-male-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2819.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5277,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/07\/03\/calling-male-long-billed-curlew\/","url_meta":{"origin":4689,"position":3},"title":"Calling male Long-billed Curlew","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I haven't heard a Long-billed Curlew calling for several weeks here in northern Utah and I already miss hearing their calls.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Long-billed Curlew calling, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-calling-mia-mcpherson-3632.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-calling-mia-mcpherson-3632.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-calling-mia-mcpherson-3632.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-billed-curlew-calling-mia-mcpherson-3632.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2618,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/07\/01\/friday-photos-long-billed-curlews\/","url_meta":{"origin":4689,"position":4},"title":"Friday Photos – Long-billed Curlews","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The juvenile Long-billed Curlew was foraging and preening in the vegetation on the ground below the adult perched on the boulder","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Landing adult Long-billed Curlew, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/long-billed-curlew-adult-landing-mia-mcpherson-3652.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/long-billed-curlew-adult-landing-mia-mcpherson-3652.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/long-billed-curlew-adult-landing-mia-mcpherson-3652.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/long-billed-curlew-adult-landing-mia-mcpherson-3652.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4613,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/03\/11\/oh-long-billed-curlew-when-will-i-hear-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":4689,"position":5},"title":"Oh Long-billed Curlew, When Will I Hear You?","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days ago I read that a Long-billed Curlew had been spotted on Antelope Island State Park and that got me excited. I've waited to see them again since they left last fall and I simply can not wait to hear their mysterious and hauntingly beautiful call.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Long-billed Curlew in a tidal lagoon, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/long-billed-curlew-lagoon-florida-mia-mcpherson-6949.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/long-billed-curlew-lagoon-florida-mia-mcpherson-6949.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/long-billed-curlew-lagoon-florida-mia-mcpherson-6949.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/long-billed-curlew-lagoon-florida-mia-mcpherson-6949.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4689\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}