[tn-bird] Re: RUFF at Rankin!
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2002 21:39:45 EDT
In a message dated 8/19/02 8:27:13 AM Central Daylight Time,
kde@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> We observed it for 10-15 min during which time it mostly
> bathed and preened but did some feeding. Not a good sign
> if I interpret Ol'Coot's lessons properly.
>
Great find, hope it stays for all to see........
The above lesson is only the case in two instances. Birds will of course bath
and preen regularly through out the day for short periods of time. So you
have to build a case for your predictions. If the bird or birds are new
arrivals (which can be determined in how they come into an area and select an
area to land, new birds and birds that have been around act differently in
flight) and if most or sometimes all of the flock after landing immediately
start preening or some tuck their heads to sleep, they are travelers and will
leave in a very short time period. They have stored fat reserves and don't
want any extra baggage in the gut. I've demonstrated this predictable
behavior time and again in front of shorebirders at many locations.
Occasionally one or two of a large group might decide to stay but the
individual or group will leave and you can bet on it. If the group disperses
and most or all start feeding in earnest, they will hang around. They may
relocate after a while in the feeding area but they will usually be around
the next day or for a few days. If a single bird of a species that has been
around for a few days starts calling in the afternoon it is looking for a
traveling partner and 9 times out of 10 will be gone in the morning.
Next, if the bird or birds have been in the area for a period of time, over a
day or so, and they start laying around, sleeping far more than feeding (and
their feathers stick out when they lay down ;o)) these birds are cleaning
their systems out for a trip.
I don't get to the pits as often as I use to but I do get there often enough
to pick up individuals or mixed groups that have staked out an area that are
IDable from plumage, color or mix that stay for a few days. When their habits
change as mentioned, stay till evening and watch them leave and if they leave
in the right direction you will not see them again. A lot of birds will leave
an area in the evening to go to roost and if you are familiar with the
directions they leave in you can predict if they will return. Over here in
the mid-south the direction of no return is south-southeast.
So the rule is not as simple as stated and birds will do their own thing
occasionally just to keep you guessing. Time with shorebirds is always, or
should be, a learning experience............
Good Birding!!!
Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.
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