Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Klaassen M. (1990) Short note on the possible occurence of heat stress in roosting waders on the Banque d'Arguin, Mauretania. ARDEA 78 (1-2): 63-65
This study examines the possibility of the occurrence of heat stress on roosting waders in an African tropical coastal area. A formalin-fixed Bar-tailed Godwit mount was used to measure operative temperature differences between laying and standing waders on the high water roosts. While in the laying position the temperature of the Bar-tailed Godwit mount was somewhat elevated over its temperature while standing. Heat conservation in the waders is reflected by the fact that the birds did not lay down when the surface temperature was lower than the air temperature, i.e. on wet sand and at night. The Bar-tailed Godwits were standing in the water and apparently cooling off, but at the same time they were conserving heat by standing on one leg and tucking their bill.


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