Dunlin

On our 29 January 2022, after the whale, Erika and I continued for another mile. We were disappointed that we did not find many species of birds, but greatly enjoyed our hike. Along the way, we did encounter a few large flocks of Dunlin. We were near high tide, and the birds appeared to be resting. Seeing them bunched together seemed a bit strange. Elsewhere along the Pacific Coast, Dunlin are most often taken by falcons (Peregrines and Merlins) and Short-eared Owls. Each year about 20% of the wintering population are killed (Warnock and Gill 2020). 

You might suppose that gathering in such tight pods would make the Dunlins easier for their predators to find them. Perhaps there is an advantage for there being more eyes to look out for incoming falcons or owls. Another advantage to being in a flock is that, for any given bird, the odds of being captured are much greater if you are the only Dunlin on the beach. In a flock, your odds become far less, like one out of 200 or so. Finally, predators may find it harder to aim at an individual bird in a flock, but may find it easier to pick off a single bird on the beach.