Between-year changes in the wintering sites of Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres: a response to diminished food resources?
Info
Pages
36 – 39
Published
1 August 05
Authors
Niall H. K. Burton, Richard A. Fuller, Mark A. Eaton
Correspondence
Niall H. K. Burton
niall.burton@bto.org
British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, UK.
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Individual Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres have previously been found to be highly faithful to their wintering sites both within and between years. Here we describe between-year shifts (of 64–77 km) in the wintering sites of five birds colour-ringed in NE England. A local population decline following the cessation of sewage discharges suggests that four of these atypical movements might have been a response to diminished food resources. A fifth bird moved to the area with the presumed diminished resources, but then returned to its original wintering site.