Foraging Behavior of Black-Bellied Plovers (Pluvialis Squatarola)

Foraging behavior of black—bellied plovers (Pluvaisl squatarola) was observed during spring and fall migration on an intertidal mudflat in Connecticut. Foraging success was greater during fall migration than spring. The time spent searching for an item of food decreased when the diet became more diverse. Time required for capture and consumption varied widely for each type of prey and among different types of prey. These variations indicate that handling time mat be a more important variable than has been recognized. An information theoretic analysis of sequence patterns of foraging revealed strong dependencies between pairs of foraging events. Thus, knowledge of the ongoing activity gives good predictive information on what the foraging bird will do nest. Black—bellied plovers appear to be more stereotyped predators than do other shorebirds previously studied. This stereotypy appears correlated with a specialized diet. Success of a given predation attempt shortens the subsequent distance traveled compared to that after unsuccessful attempts. This findings is an example of how the organization of foraging behavior can be modified by environmental feedback.