Behavioural evidence for heat-load problems in Great Knots in tropical Australia fuelling for long-distance flight

2003/06/01 by Phil F. Battley, Danny I. Rogers, Theunis Piersma +1 · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Engineering · #Biodiesel Production and Applications #Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock

paper · doi:10.1071/mu02017

openalex publication_date 2003/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Migratory shorebirds that live in the tropics prior to embarking on long (>5000 km) flights may face heat-load problems. The behaviour of a large sandpiper, the Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), was studied in Roebuck Bay, north-west Australia, from February to April 2000. We determined the incidence of heat-reduction behaviour in foraging and roosting birds in relation to breeding-plumage score (an index of migratory preparation) and microclimate variables. Heat-reduction behaviour (primarily raising the back feathers) was significantly related to breeding-plumage score and solar radiation. Raising back feathers may reduce the external heat load for a bird, or increase convective or cutaneous evaporative cooling. The results suggest that managing heat loads in tropical-wintering waders may become more difficult close to departure on migration.

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