birding-aus

Waders, their bills, on the breeding grounds

To: Jill Dening <>
Subject: Waders, their bills, on the breeding grounds
From: Bruce Roubin <>
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:40:57 +1000
Jill,
It's buried rice kernels which are foraged by Black-tailed Godwits in both staging and wintering grounds, as found in flooded ploughed
fields, so their bill adaptations are still relevant to this
opportunistic feeding
eg
See
www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bto/bird/2008/00000055/00000002/art00007

Regards

On 30/09/2008, at 9:12 PM, Jill Dening wrote:

Gee Bruce that's interesting about their eating rice! That would
have to be on migration, and would conflict with agriculture. I
would never have thought that. And there would be no probing for
rice. Or would there? Perhaps the rice is under water. No, surely
the rice is taken from the top of the stalk, like wheat. As you can see, I am no expert on rice growing.

Jill
 Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

26° 51' 41"S  152° 56' 00"E


Bruce Roubin wrote:

Jill,
I think you're on the right track when you write that  the bill
length is no competitive advantage on the breeding grounds. I used to wonder about the same thing. During the time spent on the breeding grounds - up to 8 weeks - I understand the adult & chick diet is mostly insects, and is
supplemented esp. by adults with some berries or other vegetative
material.
Here below is an extract from Article by: Barry Taylor, PhD from

 http://www.answers.com/topic/scolopacidae-1


On northern breeding grounds most migratory species appear to eat
predominantly insects and arachnids, which are abundant. On
migration and on wintering grounds, very different animal prey may be taken and some species become dietary specialists. Few species take predominantly plant material, although ruffs and black-tailed godwits periodically eat only rice. When newly returned to the breeding grounds, many species may find animal food scarce and may temporarily supplement their diet with seeds and shoots, while
great knots (Calidris tenuirostris) feed predominantly on berries
throughout the breeding season. Berries may also have been the
staple food of the Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis) when breeding.

Regards
Bruce Roubin

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