Risk Factors for Predation Attempts by Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) on Staging Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla)

Avian wings can lengthen rather than shorten in response to increased migratory predation danger

“…Instead, extra caution is necessary while at staging sites. Over recent decades, migrating semipalmated sandpipers have increasingly aggregated at safer locations (1974–2018; Hope et al, 2020 ), altered space use (Sprague et al, 2008 ), and flocking behavior (e.g., Beauchamp, 2008 , 2016 ; Beauchamp & Ruxton, 2008 ), and have taken up cliff roosting (MacKinnon et al, 2008 ) and over‐ocean flocking (Dekker et al, 2011 ) in place of roosting on mudflats at high tide. Lank et al ( 2017 ) suggested that wing shortening be added to this list of anti‐predator adaptations.…”