Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Intertidal Parabola



Sanderlings, which plunge their long skinny beaks into wet shore sand to catch clams and mole crabs and other tasty, burrowing morsels, run away from each approaching wave…




…But rush towards each retreating wave…



This can result in some interesting, if fleeting, beach art:




{A note: I do write all text and take all pictures. Please do not reproduce either without my permission.}

4 comments:

rebecca said...

Cool! I love the clockwork motion of Sanderlings running back and forth with the waves, but I'd never paid much attention to their tracks before.

Anca said...

Love those little guys! And lovely shot of their tiny steps, in which they write their names on water:).

Olivia V. Ambrogio said...

I love them, too! And, Rebecca, although I too had enjoyed sanderlings' movements many times in the past, I had never seen the pattern their little foot-prints made until this past weekend.

biobabbler said...

yes, yes, and yes. artistes!!

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...