Prey Choice of Intertidally Foraging Water Birds

Abstract

The foraging behaviors and prey choice of intertidally foraging birds is largely undocumented. A series of four observations on prey choice was done at a discrete site during low tidal heights (<.0.61 m) and high tidal heights (>1.52m). Prey was defined as three distinct categories, “Fish”, “Crustacean”, and “Other”. There were significantly more crustaceans consumed than fish or other organisms. No observed feeding during high tidal heights. Conspicuous consistent behaviors also noted but not formally analyzed. There is potential for intertidally foraging birds to have top-down control of intertidal ecosystems.