Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Science Article 6
abstract
The stopover of adult Dunlins, Calidris a. alpina during autumn migration at Ottenby, S.E. Sweden, was investigated. The proportion of Dunlins actively moulting their flight feathers was higher among second-year (2-yr) birds than among older ones (3-yr+). We compared stopover length, arrival body mass, departure body mass and rate of body mass increase between 2-yr and 3-yr+ birds, and between moulting and non-moulting birds, respectively. To estimate length of stopover, a simple mark-recapture model, assuming a constant stopover and capture probability, was fitted to the data on recaptured Dunlins. Maximum likelihood estimates of the daily stopover probability and its variance are provided.
Holmgren N., Ellegren H. & Pettersson J., ARDEA 81 (1): 9-20.