I shot this video at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge on May 17, 2011 using my Canon 7D. For Ridgefield NWR visitors, the location was directly across from the Kiwa Trail entrance. Below is an explanation of the scrape ceremony from the Cornell Lab All About Birds website:
“The male and female of a mated pair pick out a nesting site through a ritual known as a scrape ceremony. The male lowers his breast to the ground and scrapes a shallow depression with his feet. The female then approaches, head lowered, and takes his place. The male then stands with body tilted slightly forward, tail raised and spread, calling rapidly. Mating often follows.”
In the case of this video, the female never did approach the area and take the male’s place. This gravel area was right out in the open next to the road and not a good place for a nest. But the male bird gave it his all until they flew away.
