Field Notes

David Fix
50. by David Fix on July 03, 2011 at 03:46 pm

An ornithologist friend once had dinner interrupted by a reporter who wanted to know more about interactions between the locally celebrated Dunlin swarms and Merlins. The ornithologist painstakingly detailed how a Merlin would watch a flock, hunt it, flush it, isolate a handful of birds--ultimately becoming a hapless single Dunlin--and would either miss that individual or kill it and eat it, consuming the sandpiper's muscle as well as its internal tissues. At this point there began a silence on the other end of the line. Finally, the question was asked, "Why can't they all just get along?"

view source

Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.

Expanded Life History

Feed Ecology And Diet Contribute Content
Nesting Habits Contribute Content
Migration Status Contribute Content
Conservation Status Contribute Content
Local Sites to Spot Contribute Content
Abundance Status Contribute Content
Adult Male Description Contribute Content
Adult Female Description Contribute Content
ITIS Taxonomic Number Contribute Content
Sonogram Contribute Content
Courtship Contribute Content
Reproductive Characteristics Contribute Content
Relationship to Humans Contribute Content
ID Tips - Size & Shape Contribute Content
ID Tips - Color & Pattern Contribute Content
ID Tips - Habitat Contribute Content
ID Tips - Behavior Contribute Content
ID Tips - Wingspan Contribute Content
ID Tips - Weight Contribute Content
Breeding Contribute Content
Cool Facts Contribute Content
Local Knowledge Contribute Content

Post a Question

Ask ?

Answer ?

  • Help others learn from your experience
  • Collect community points
  • Learn from others

Sightings

Date Submitted By Count
05/01/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
05/01/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
04/24/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
04/24/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
04/17/18 Steven Mauvais, OR 0
04/17/18 Steven Mauvais, OR 0
04/17/18 Steven Mauvais, OR 0
04/26/16 Steven Mauvais, OR #
04/19/16 Steven Mauvais, OR #
04/12/16 Steven Mauvais, OR #
05/05/15 Steven Mauvais, OR 10
04/28/15 Steven Mauvais, OR 10
04/21/15 Steven Mauvais, OR 105
04/14/15 Steven Mauvais, OR 7
04/07/15 Steven Mauvais, OR 80

Recent Activity

Activity Date & Time
Steven Mauvais added Dunlin to their Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge smart list 1/10/2012 at 1:07PM
David Fix added a note to Dunlin Notes 7/03/2011 at 3:46PM