Stitching technique of Whimbrels

Описание: Whimbrel foraging in wet sand at Asilomar State Beach, CA. Dec. 2023.

The whimbrel, a captivating shorebird with a long, decurved bill perfectly suited for probing the wet sand in search of its prey. Stitching, as you describe it, is a fascinating foraging technique employed by whimbrels and other long-billed birds. Here's how it works:

Probe and Pause: The whimbrel plunges its bill deep into the wet sand, feeling for vibrations or movements that indicate hidden invertebrates like worms, crustaceans, or mollusks.
Head Tilt and Stitch: Once it senses prey, the whimbrel tilts its head and rapidly swings its bill from side to side in a stitching motion. This creates tiny furrows in the sand, effectively widening the initial probe hole.
Flushing and Feasting: The stitching motion often dislodges the prey, causing it to flee towards the surface. The whimbrel is quick to react, snapping up the flushed invertebrate before it can burrow back into the sand.
This stitching technique allows whimbrels to efficiently exploit the rich buffet hidden beneath the surface of wet sand. Their long bills act as probes and shovels, while the rapid side-to-side motion expands the search area and flushes out buried prey. It's a beautiful display of adaptation and skill honed by evolution.