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Dietary Surprises of Western Sandpipers by Irby J

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Dietary Surprises of Western Sandpipers by Irby J VOLUME 46 December 2012/January 2013 Number 3 Dietary Surprises of Western Sandpipers by Irby J. Lovette, that might allow the birds to graze on Living Bird magazine, biofilms. To test their suspicions, they Professor of Biology at Cornell University studied Western Sandpipers feeding on mudflats during spring migration. Have you ever watched a flock of sand- Using high-speed video, the research pipers pecking furiously at a mudflat team documented how these birds and wondered what they could possibly consume mudflat biofilms. be eating? As you might predict, most When eating biofilm, the birds move foraging shorebirds are gleaning small more slowly than they do when eat- Western Sandpiper invertebrates such as marine worms and ing invertebrates, because there is no Photo courtesy of Tomohiro Kuwae small crustaceans from the mud. But not need to sneak up on the immobile bio- always: new research on Western Sand- films. The birds simply place their open Even with the video evidence for this pipers has discovered that these birds bill tips on the surface of the mud and newly documented type of feeding, it rely heavily on a previously unsuspected collect a tiny ball of biofilm, then raise was still possible that the birds might food source. their still slightly open bill out of the really just be consuming minute inverte- This surprising sandpiper food is not a mud and swallow the droplet, leaving brates contained within these tiny mud- clam, a worm, or another small animal behind tiny doubled impressions of their balls. To prove that the sandpipers were but rather the so-called biofilm that bill tips on the surface of the mudflat. Continued on page 2 grows as a mat on the surface of the mud. Biofilms are a rich goo of micro- JANUARY GENERAL MEETING scopic bacteria, detritus, and sediment, along with compounds secreted by the Monday January 21, 7:30 PM bacteria that give the substance a mucus- First United Methodist Church like consistency. The mudflat biofilms 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa eaten by sandpipers are challenging to “How to Garden for Birds” feed upon because they are very thin— Creating habitats for birds by creating habitats for insects is an area well researched by Frede- usually much thinner than the paper on rique Lavoipierre. Today she is an instructor at Sonoma State University (SSU), where she which this magazine is printed. coordinates the Entomology Outreach Program for the Field Stations & Nature Preserves A group of researchers from Japan, and the Garden Classroom Program for the Environmental Studies & Planning Depart- France, and Canada had looked closely ment. Her emphasis on watershed stewardship in both programs is inspired by Copeland Creek, which runs through the campus. She is the founding director of the SSU Sustainable at the bills of Western Sandpipers and Landscape Program (School of Extended Education) where she continues as an instructor. Dunlins and found specialized structures Frederique holds a M.Sc. in Biology from SSU and is the author of “Garden Allies”, a series for magazine. Her talk will encompass bird habitat in garden environ- Pacific Horticulture To receive Leaves via email in PDF format just ments, food for insectivores, and the birds of the SSU campus. email your request to: NO GENERAL MEETING IN DECEMBER, BUT COME JOIN US ON MADRONE’S [email protected] CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, SUNDAY DECEMBER 30. Details on page 7. You will get your copy faster and help save paper. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! MADRONE LEAVES WESTERN SANDPIPERS ful Bird-A-Thon. Teams will contact discovery walks with the second Continued from page 1 you and ask for your support. Please be graders, bilingual nature/bird walks for eating bacterial biofilm, the research- generous by sponsoring a team with a higher grades and adults, bird research, ers used a series of chemical assays to pledge of 10 cents to whatever amount and stewardship & restoration at calculate how much of the sandpipers’ per bird species, or even a set amount. Shollenberger Park and Alman Marsh. overall food energy was derived from The Team will contact you after their Obviously, there is a niche for everyone. day of birding to accept your donation biofilms. Like plants, the bacteria in You would be joining a great group of with thanks. If you would like to par- biofilms are primary producers, and docents who enjoy each other’s com- ticipate on a team in 2013, or form this gives them a characteristic chemi- pany and are always ready to pitch in your own with friends, please see the cal signature along with a high abun- and help when the call comes. Teach- box for information. dance of proteins such as chlorophyll ers sign-up quickly for a space in our that aren’t found in most invertebrates. program. These comparisons showed that mi- How to be part of Because of the economy, the Educa- grating Western Sandpipers garner tion Committee asks that applicants Bird-A-Thon 2013 up to half of their daily energy from pay only $20 toward the cost of mate- eating biofilms. Western Sandpipers For Birding Teams: rials. For more information, call Bob are one of the world’s most numer- Contact BAT Coordinator, Marcia John- at 763-2934, Gerald at 763-3577, or ous shorebirds, and mudflats in calm son at [email protected] or 829-3808, visit www.petalumawetlands.org. waters are nearly ideal growing con- and she will send you a sign-up sheet. ditions for biofilms. The researchers Start signing up your sponsors. speculate that the spectacular abun- After your “big day”, tell your sponsors • • • • • • dance of Western Sandpipers may how many species you saw and how much they owe. stem from their unusual ability to feed Junior Audubon on this plentiful resource. Send your checks to Marcia at 1460 Big Cedar Lane, Sebastopol, CA 95472, or bring by Scott Campbell your check to the next General Meeting. We’ve had two successful trips, so far, • • • • • • For Sponsors: in the 2012-2013 year. On Saturday Say “Yes” to anyone who asks you to Madrone’s 2013 pledge. If no one asks, you can sign up to 15 September there were 20+ folks support a Team at the General Meeting. who showed up to view the Vaux’s BIRD-A-THON. Swifts; there were over 150 people coming soon watching the Swifts. The count for the evening was 6,900 Swifts with By Marcia Johnson, Don’t Forget to Enrich one Merlin making the evening in- Bird-A-Thon Coordinator Your Life — Become a teresting with his fly-by, but the February is Bird-A-Thon month, Swifts were too fast and even turned and teams have a fun day just count- Petaluma Wetlands the tables on the intruder by go- ing birds to support our Chapter. It is Docent ing after him. All in all, a wonderful hopeful that the six teams who partici- evening and a wonderful sight. The by Mary Edith Moore pated in 2012 will continue this year, as Saturday October 5th trip was smaller this is our major fundraiser. Last year Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA) new- with five students and five adults show- we collected over $9,600 - all of which docent training begins Thursday January ing up at Hawkwatch Hill at the Marin was used for educational and conserva- 10 and continues for eight consecutive Headlands. The treat for the day was tion programs, such as the popular Ju- Thursdays thru February, 8:30 AM – three Broad-winged even though it was nior Audubon. The funds also provide Noon. Training sessions are held either late in the migration for them. Lots Audubon Adventures, a FREE resource at the Lucchesi Community Center or of Red-tailed and accipiters. A band- kit for teachers to use in their 3rd, 4th, Shollenberger Park. ing and release of a juvenile female and 5th grade classes. Lincoln School’s Cooper’s Hawk was great, along with PWA has a very active wetlands program: half-day Bird Festival for all students a general presentation on raptors. The teaching third grade hands-on activities benefits from money earned. Sponsors start of the day was thick fog, but the in the classroom and in the field, nature (you) are the backbone of a success- end was bright sunshine. Page 2 MADRONE LEAVES Sudden Oak Death ecosystems which are a beloved and inte- D-Con®, Rats, and and the Central gral part of the Mayacamas landscape. Raptors How you can help: Mayacamas Region by Gordon Beebe 1. Learn about and practice good wild- By Sherry Adams, Do you use rat poison to control rats and land hygiene. This includes brushing Audubon Canyon Ranch Biologist mice? After noticing an increase in rap- off any potential weed seeds from tor deaths, including the mate of famous Like many of you interested in oak trees your footwear and clothes every time Red-tailed Hawk Pale Male in New York and their ecosystems, we at Audubon Can- you prepare to leave a place, wheth- City, scientists confirmed that many of yon Ranch have followed the issue of sud- er you are on your way to MMS or the raptors had died from eating poi- den oak death (SOD) closely. Our preserves any other natural area. In the case of soned rats. The poison used in D-Con® range from the coastal Martin Griffin Pre- SOD, this means being careful to not and other products is called a second- serve, which is heavily impacted with SOD, walk around mud, particularly from generation coagulant product. It does to inland properties in the central Mayac- an area that is known to be infect- not immediately kill the rat or mouse; amas where the pathogen that causes SOD ed with SOD to an area that is not instead, they become very thirsty and has only been recently documented.
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