The Long-billed Dowitcher 
Taken near Santa Barbara AT HIGH TIDE Photo by the Author 
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS ON PROTECTED WATER 
even though the cabinets at home be already groaning with Peep nega¬ 
tives. Killdeers in the offing are shouting their imprecations and warn¬ 
ings, for nothing so delights the Killdeer’s heart as to stampede the small 
fry in the face of pretended danger, and so be looked up to as a leader and 
a savior. But among those who wait and heed him not, the gentle 
Dowitcher is preeminent. He is very much occupied just now in jabbing 
holes in the soft muck. I had the curiosity one day to count the number 
of jabs made per minute: one bird delivered seventy-five, and another a 
hundred. This count included the minor thrusting motions made in each 
hole, as well as new prospects started. But the minute, as reckoned, was 
elapsed time, and included, besides the hundred thrusts, all moments 
spent in devouring prey and in pausing to take new bearings. Another 
bird drilled thirty new holes each minute. 
When more closely pressed, the Dowitcher pauses and gravely consid¬ 
ers, with motionless beak. He remarks, Quit up to a fellow, and scuttles 
away a foot or so, pausing again, or resuming busily. If driven to flight, 
the Dowitchers close ranks instantly and move off in unison like Sandpi¬ 
pers, now wheeling sharply and flashing white underparts, now tacking so 
that their brown backs are scarcely visible against the dun wastes of sali- 
cornia. While never a noisy bird, there are always a few in a flock to make 
mellow comment or protest, clip r teeoo or cleeu koo, koo, unexpectedly 
Tattler-like. 
I22 5 
