Bob
I can't answer those questions but it would be interesting to know where these
birds dropped their primaries and if they pause their migration while they grow
them back or continue on..
Roy
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2017, at 4:48 AM, Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Hmm, a little puzzling. Why would a species engage in long distance
migration in that condition. This would require some research in the
ornithological literature I guess. And in escaping a peregrine, which could
benefit from high maneuverability, these missing primaries would seem like a
big disadvantage. I wonder if that's why they tried to dive or remain in the
water instead of going into flight. Bob obrien
On Friday, July 21, 2017, Roy Lowe <roy.loweiii@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Today, when a peregrine falcon flushed shorebirds at the Eckman Lake
Outfall into Alsea Bay I captured an image of five greater yellowlegs
gliding back in for a landing. After getting home and looking at the image
I found that 4 of the 5 birds were missing their inner primaries due to
wing molt. Take a look at the attached photo. Their wings look pretty
funky and not very aerodynamic.
Roy
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