The Wilson's Phalarope at Anahuac NWR

In yesterday’s blog, regarding sighting the Ruff at Anahuac NWR, I detailed the “where” and “how” of spotting that wonderfully-rare shorebird and new lifer for me.  As mentioned, there was a bounty of migrant and summer shorebirds in that same boardwalk viewing area.

I thought I’d include this photo, of that view, to better describe the habitat and the distance involved for photographic and binocular viewing:

The second exciting lifer for me, from this boardwalk view, is the Wilson’s Phalarope: 

I did not realize, until further study, that it is the FEMALE of this species that dons the brightly colored plumage.  In all three species of the genus Phalarope, the female lays her eggs and then turns over the incubation and care-taking of her young to the less-colorful males.

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if this type of parental handoff was the norm for human children.  Would the resulting behavior find teenagers and adults seeking out and treasuring our mothers?  Seems the popular culture of today has we humans discarding or disparaging our mothers. 

I have to wonder if the roots of this human bad-behavior is subliminally tied to the concept of discarding childhood relationships in order to “grow up”; or if the disparaging of mothers is just another example of a world overly critical of women.

But how about these Wilson’s Phalaropes?  I believe some of the photos are showing transitional breeding plumage. The photos aren't great but aren't these migrant shorebirds stunning?