Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

login


[close window] [previous abstract] [next abstract]

Leopold M.F., Marteijn E.C.L. & Swennen C. (1985) Long-distance transport of prey from the intertidal zone to high-tide roosts by the Oystercatcher. ARDEA 73 (1): 76-82
Oystercatchers transport single prey items, held with their bills, over large distances from their intertidal foraging sites to high-tide roosts. Adults and immatures perform this behaviour, which takes place all year round but is negatively correlated with ambient temperature, wind speed and the time their intertidal food is exposed by the tide. The birds were not found to select larger than average mussels for transport. The main costs of the transport are estimated. It is concluded that the energy content of the prey taken is about+ ten times higher than the costs of carrying it. The profit of transporting one prey item can be no more than 1 to 3 per cent of the total intake of the intertidal period.


[close window] [previous abstract] [next abstract]