Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Durell S.E.A. le V.Dit, Goss-Custard J.D. & Perez-Hurtado A. (1996) The efficiency of juvenile Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus feeding on Ragworms Nereis diversicolor. ARDEA 84 (A): 153-157
Matched pairs of juvenile and adult Oystercatchers were observed feeding on Ragworms on the Exe estuary in autumn. Juvenile feeding rates were higher than adults but, as juveniles took smaller worms, there was no significant difference in intake rates. Interactions between birds were very infrequent and bird density, measured as mean nearest neighbour distance, had no effect on either adult or juvenile intake rates. Juvenile peck rates were higher, but there was no difference in the proportion of unsuccessful pecks and no difference in pace rates. It is concluded that, in contrast with birds feeding on Mussels, juveniles feeding on worms were as efficient as adults.


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