ACTIVITY RHYTHMS OF SHELDUCKS (TADORNA-TA DORNA) AND WADERS (CHARADRII) ON THE NORTH-SEA COAST

Shelducks, Oystercatchers, Grey Plovers, Knots, Dunlins, Bar-tailed Go dwits, Curlews, Spotted Redshanks, Redshanks, and Greenshanks showed a tidal rhythm of time-activity budgets on the Wadden Sea coast during the non-breeding season. Ringed Plovers and Ruffs did not react to the tidal rhythm. Night-time feeding could be observed in most species. D ifferences in the time-activity budgets of the species were related to body mass and size of food particles. Inter-site comparisons revealed that technical constructions for coastal protection influenced the ac tivity rhythms of the birds.