FORAGING HABITS OF CRAB PLOVERS DROMAS-ARDEOLA OVERWINTERING ON THE KENYA COAST

The Crab Plover, a little known endemic species of the north and west coasts of the Indian Ocean and the only member of the family Dromadida e, was studied at Mida Creek, one of its main overwintering areas. Roo sting and feeding alternated in relation to the tidal cycle. Feeding o ccurred both by day and by night, but in different areas. Prey were pu rsued chiefly by visual detection; tactile probing was also used but w ith low success. The diet included all prey types present within a 25 cm layer of mud, but prey which often come to the surface (crabs and m olluscs) dominated, while worms which remain within the mud were preye d upon less frequently. Juveniles took less than half the weight of fo od taken per min by the adults, due to a lower capture rate and smalle r prey. The juveniles seemed to have Che same rate of prey detection a s the adults, but to be less able at prey capture, especially for prey thai, hide in mud and are presumably more difficult to catch. The ove rall feeding behavior of the Crab Plover is very similar to that of th e Charadrius and Pluvialis waders.