Beintema A.J., Thissen J.B., Tensen D. & Visser G.H. (1991) Feeding ecology of charadriiform chicks in agricultural grassland. ARDEA 79 (1): 31-44

Diets of chicks of the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Redshank Tringa totanus, Ruff Philomachus pugnax, and Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus were studied by faecal analysis. Lapwing chicks feed on surface dwelling organisms, and exploit fauna living inside cow-dung pats. Black-tailed Godwit chicks hunt for more mobile prey species, higher in the vegetation. Redshank and Ruff take intermediate positions. Oystercatcher chicks are fed on tipulid larvae and earthworms. To obtain information on food availability, macrofauna was sampled. In May, the number of arthropods in grassland rapidly increases. In June, arthropod abundance may temporarily decrease. Chicks show retarded growth from mid-May onwards, before prey abundance peaks. A hypothesis is proposed that from the energetic point of view, chicks cannot grow up on arthropod fauna alone, but have to switch to earthworms, which may become progressively difficult to obtain later in the season.