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. 1993 Mar;93(3):389-393.
doi: 10.1007/BF00317883.

Temporal and spatial pattern of common tern (Sterna hirundo) foraging in the Wadden Sea

Peter H Becker  1 , Dietrich Frank  1 , Stefan R Sudmann  1
Affiliations

Temporal and spatial pattern of common tern (Sterna hirundo) foraging in the Wadden Sea

Peter H Becker et al. Oecologia. 1993 Mar.

Abstract

In 1989, 313 foraging flights of common terns in the Wadden Sea were radio-tracked. The feeding trips lasted on average 115 min covering about 30 km per flight. Completely tracked flights had a mean radius of 6.3 km. The terns preferred distinct foraging areas in the Wadden Sea. These were visited at site-specific phases of the tidal cycle resulting in a temporal and spatial pattern of foraging, caused by the site-specific and tide-related fluctuations of food availability.

Keywords: Foraging areas; Foraging flights; Sterna hirunda; Tides; Wadden Sea.

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