Waders, their bills, on the breeding grounds

[Bruce Roubin <>]

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
> >
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG.
> > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1698 - Release Date:
> > 29/09/2008 7:25 PM
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com

To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 
=============================