Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, and Allies (<em>Charadriiformes</em>)

Semipalmated Plover – ForagingCharadrius semipalmatus September – Nova Scotia L=7.5” ...... WS=19” ...... WT=16 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

Semipalmated Plover – ForagingCharadrius semipalmatus September – Nova Scotia L=7.5” ...... WS=19” ...... WT=16 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

Ruddy Turnstone – ForagingArenaria interpres September – Nova Scotia L=9.5” ...... WS=21” ...... WT=4 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies) Ruddy Turnstones get their name from their foraging technique of flipping over stones, pebbles, seaweed, shells and other items with their chisel shaped beak. They will eat almost anything including insects, small fish, carrion, human trash, and bird eggs. They have stout legs, no webbing between the toes, and a small hind toe which enables them to be skilled at walking, running, climbing on rocks, and digging. As they forage they will run from place to place making behavior observation rewarding and entertaining.

Ruddy Turnstone – ForagingArenaria interpres September – Nova Scotia L=9.5” ...... WS=21” ...... WT=4 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies) Ruddy Turnstones get their name from their foraging technique of flipping over stones, pebbles, seaweed, shells and other items with their chisel shaped beak. They will eat almost anything including insects, small fish, carrion, human trash, and bird eggs. They have stout legs, no webbing between the toes, and a small hind toe which enables them to be skilled at walking, running, climbing on rocks, and digging. As they forage they will run from place to place making behavior observation rewarding and entertaining.

Ruddy Turnstone – ForagingArenaria interpres September – Nova Scotia L=9.5” ...... WS=21” ...... WT=4 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies) Ruddy Turnstones get their name from their foraging technique of flipping over stones, pebbles, seaweed, shells and other items with their chisel shaped beak. They will eat almost anything including insects, small fish, carrion, human trash, and bird eggs. They have stout legs, no webbing between the toes, and a small hind toe which enables them to be skilled at walking, running, climbing on rocks, and digging. As they forage they will run from place to place making behavior observation rewarding and entertaining.

Sanderling – ForagingCalidris albas September – Nova Scotia L=8” ...... WS=17” ...... WT=2 oz......m>f Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies)

Forster's Tern – Diving for fishSterna forsteri January – Texas L=13” ...... WS=31” ...... WT=6 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Allies)

Forster's Tern – Diving for fishSterna forsteri January – Texas L=13” ...... WS=31” ...... WT=6 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Allies)

Ring-billed Gull – Ring-billed Gull (left) chasing Forster's Tern for fishLarus delawarensis November – Texas L=17.5”...... WS=48”...... WT=1.1 lb Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Allies) Some birds, such as jaegers, regularly practice kleptoparasitism, a foraging strategy that consists of stealing food from other birds. Typically the aggressor will chase the victim until the victim drops the prey. In this case a Ring-billed Gull (left) was chasing a Forster’s Tern. The chase lasted 1 to 2 minutes at which time the Ring-billed Gull gave up and let the Forster’s Tern eat its catch.