American Avocet- Summer Lake Wildlife Area

An American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) wades the shallow periphery of an alkali lake in search of copepods and other small crustaceans. The American Avocet exhibits distinctive foraging behaviors that facilitate its success in the saline and arid wetlands of Oregon’s Great Basin and Range. This species is commonly observed in shallow wetlands, alkaline lakes, and mudflats, where it employs specialized feeding strategies to exploit available prey efficiently. American Avocets utilize several feeding strategies, the most characteristic of which is the sweeping motion of their bill. This method involves a side-to-side movement of the long, upward-curved bill through water or sediment, enabling the detection and capture of small invertebrates such as brine shrimp, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. The sweeping motion is often rhythmic and performed while wading through shallow water, relying on the bill’s tactile sensitivity to locate prey. Pecking and dabbling behaviors are also common. These include targeting visible prey at the water’s surface or within the water column. Dabbling involves stirring the substrate to dislodge prey and increase availability. Probing is another observed behavior, though less frequent, where the bird inserts its bill into soft mud or sand to extract buried prey items. American Avocets often forage in groups, collectively disturbing sediment to increase prey availability. This social behavior enhances foraging efficiency and reduces individual energy expenditure. Additionally, the species exhibits opportunistic feeding, taking advantage of seasonal prey abundances, such as brine shrimp and alkali flies, which are particularly abundant in saline lake habitats. In Oregon’s Great Basin, American Avocets predominantly inhabit the shallow margins of alkaline lakes, ephemeral wetlands, and playas. These environments, characterized by high salinity and alkalinity, support diverse and abundant invertebrate populations. The avocet’s ability to forage effectively in these extreme conditions highlights its ecological adaptability and niche specialization. American Avocet, Lake County, Summer Lake