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Luck of the draw
- the effects random chance on migration.....

The following illustrates the effect of "luck" on migration. Random chance seems to play quite a role in the tough life of a migrant bird - sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Sometimes better and worse can swap places alarmingly quickly....

On the morning of 19 September the weather was not conducive to migration with a light southerly headwind and much more importantly, very poor visibility and rain. It was therefore not surprising that there were a number of migrants onboard the survey vessel I was working on some 100km north west of Kristiansund, Norway.

Three Northern Wheatear, a Snow Bunting and a Purple Sandpiper were present. All these were seen to hunt the many bugs and insects that had been landing on the deck during the preceding days (largely clear, sunny and relatively calm). This bonus food supply coupled with pools of fresh rainwater on the deck provided some extra chances for survival.

The rain stopped mid morning and by lunchtime the weather had cleared nicely. Correspondingly the deck cleared of birds which continued their southward migration. Except for the Wheatear pictured below - it had somehow managed to trap its leg between two narrow hydraulic lines on an A-frame. I freed the bird and found that its left leg was completely shattered - it had also expended a great deal of energy trying to free itself. In other words - it was far from being in top form. Experience has shown that attempting to look after such birds offshore rarely goes well - so I let it go.


Northern Wheatear, 19 Septmenber 2006, Ormen Lange	This bird had become entangled and had smashed its left leg


Migrant Moth resting on grating	Bugs - the main source of insect food onboard

The Wheatear remained onboard during the afternoon and into the evening when a gale force southerly wind started, accompanied by extremely heavy showers. A Common Kestrel was forced down by these inclement conditions - a further tragic twist of fate for the unfortunate Wheatear. The Kestrel quickly caught and devoured the Wheatear - a bonus meal for the Kestrel and something that may have made the difference between life and death for the small raptor far out to sea.


Common Kestrel - Wheatear feathers still stuck to its talons	The remains of the Wheatear above....

This was not the first such illustrative example of the effects of random chance witnessed during the trip. A singularly unlucky Red-breasted Flycatcher landed onboard during otherwise favourable conditions, only to be killed by a coat of fresh paint....read more here.

All pictures taken using a Nikon Coolpix 4500, no telephoto lens