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Watch rare shorebirds engage in a synchronized water dance

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www.sciencemag.org

Erica TennenhouseRare shorebirds called phalaropes practice an unusual water dance to help them consume their prey: They spin in tight, quick circles on the water by kicking one foot harder than the other, creating upward jets that pump tiny, out-of-reach insects and crustaceans toward the surface.

The birds then dip their bills into the upwelling and feed at high speed. Now, a research team finds that these dizzying birds choose neighbors that spin in the same direction.

The cliquishness of right-footed and left-footed birds helps keep the peace within a flock as phalaropes scarf down food, the team suggests.The research answers a question “anyone who’s ever watched phalaropes spinning like demented wind-up toys has wondered about,” says.

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