Bird of the Month
by Carolyn Preston
Most birds consume a surprising variety of food, switching feeding strategies depending on what foods are available. We will look at 14 different strategies used frequently by the familiar species at Grand Harbor. This month we will look at water birds. Last month we looked at non-water birds. Refer back if you missed it.
SURFACE FEEDING—Capturing prey by skimming or plucking food from the surface of the water. Examples: Grackels and Fish Crow
PLUNGING—Diving from the air or a perch and completely submerging under water in pursuit of fish. Examples: Ospreys, Bald Eagles and Brown Pelicans
DIVING—Submerging from the water surface in pursuit of fish. Examples: Anhingas, Cormorants, Hooded Merganswers and Lesser Scaups
STALKING—Standing, walking or wading in search of fish, insects or other prey from shallow water or land surface. Examples: Herons, Egrets
SIFTING—Straining animals and plants from mud or water. Example: Roseate Spoonbill
Dabbling—Tipping the tail up and stretching downward without completely submerging to reach the bottom vegetation or shallow waters. Examples: Lesser Scaup, Mottled Ducks, Coots, Common Gullinule
SWIM AND SCOOP—Swimming after prey and then scooping them into a pouch. Examples: White Pelicans
