Sorry everyone, if you aren't familiar with
the term "runner". I should have explained.
Before a shorebird or tern is able to fly, it is covered with down, and
is called a "runner". The only way it can move is to run along the
beach. It is able to do this from the time it hatches in the nest,
which is a scrape in the sand above the high tide line. The term runner
is widely used amongst people who observe shorebird and tern beach
breeding. eg Pied Oystercatchers, Red-capped Plovers, Hooded Plovers
(though not in my area) all have a runner stage where they are very
vulnerable to foxes, dogs, people, 4WDs and anything that can catch
them.
As soon as the shorebird or tern grows its first feathers, it begins to
fly, and is called a fledgling.
People shouldn't throw around jargon, should they? :-) Sorry.
Cheers,
Jill
--
Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
26° 51' 41"S 152° 56' 00"E
|
===============================
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:
===============================
|
