Sanderling - Ross Feldner

"The flats took on a mysterious quality as dusk approached and the last evening light was reflected from the scattered pools and creeks... Sanderlings scurried across the beach like little ghosts..." – Rachel Carson

These tiny sandpipers run back and forth chasing the waves in search of a meal usually in search of sand crabs and other invertebrates. Sanderlings live near beaches, lake shores and tidal flats preferring sandy beaches swept with waves. Their coloration is well matched to sand especially in pale winter plumage.

These little shorebirds are very social and gather in small flocks. They will also form larger flocks as a defense against predators like the Peregrine Falcon. These larger flocks are tightly packed and evade danger by darting and swooping to confuse any predator.

Sanderling populations are in serious decline with some surveys showing an 80% drop in numbers in the Americas since early 1970s.