Interrupting a shorebird party

The Black-necked Stilts voiced their objections when I walked toward a pond filled with birds feeding and preening.

Fancy legs and loud voices.

More than half of the partygoers took off when I approached.

The exodus when an uninvited guest arrived.

But the black and white birds stayed behind with a few others.

The Black-necked stilts didn't move toward me, but they yip-yapped loudly until I moved along.

The stilts should have been happy that I thinned the crowd so they would have more room.

The remaining party guests. excluding a bunch of white ibis that didn't want to mingle.