Yes, I have witnessed this when we were banding Mallards in N Wisconsin
at night with spot lights and fishing nets. As we approached the
Mallards with the spot light on, as you tried to scoop them into the
net, they would dive to get away and were rather good at it. Dabblers
can dive if they want!
Also we witnessed in Humboldt Bay Cal a large flock of Marbled Godwits
did the one thing they could do when the Peregrine came barreling in at
them - they dove, completely underwater. It worked. So shorebirds
can dive too. They are also pretty good swimmers. I have watched pre
fledged Snowy Plover chicks swim across creeks, no problem.
Cheers
Dave Lauten
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