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The Conversation
The Conversation
Joan Strassmann, Professor of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis

For birds, flocks promise safety – especially if you’re faster than your neighbor

Texas Behavior National Geographic Wikimedia Wikimedia Commons
Sanderlings run in groups as they hunt for food in the sand on Long Beach Island, N.J. Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Moment via Getty Images

As I walked along Bolivar Flats, just across from Galveston Island in Texas, I watched flocks of sanderlings forage along the frothy wavefront as it surged and retreated. Nearby, Caspian terns, American avocets, and black skimmers rested on the beach, each in its own group.

The birds rose simultaneously as I drew near, and then settled farther down the beach, clearly fearing me.

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