A young wading bird with just one leg has been sighted at Kalba Beach, evoking awe and surprise.
Local wildlife expert Mohammad Reza Khan said he was routinely visiting Kalba on Tuesday morning when he astonishingly found the less-than-four-month-old Sanderling.
Challenges of Flight and Feeding:
The bird flew and fed without apparent issues despite traveling roughly 5,000 kilometers from the Arctic Circle.
“Birds depend on their wings for flight, but their legs play a crucial role in take-off and landing,” explained Khan.
Sanderlings’ Unique Feeding Behavior:
“For Sanderlings, legs play an even more important part as they must swiftly run towards the water when waves pull back, searching for tiny crabs in the wet sand.
Their rapid movements blur their legs as they scurry back and forth on the beach, probing for prey left behind by the retreating waves.
I am amazed [at] how this tiny bird is managing all these activities with just one leg after traveling from the Arctic circle to the East Coast of the UAE,” said Khan, marveling at the bird’s resilience.
Sanderlings, classified as medium-sized ‘peep’ sandpipers, are easily recognized by their pale, nonbreeding plumage, black legs, and bill, coupled with their habit of chasing waves.
Migratory Journey:
Adults depart the breeding grounds early, leaving young birds to migrate independently.
Reza Khan reckons this chick was hatched in July and migrated from a country in the Arctic region before arriving in Kalba en route to the Red Sea Coast.
One-Legged Mystery:
It remains uncertain whether the bird was born with one leg or lost it due to injury, although Khan leans toward the former as the more likely scenario.
“Sanderlings are voracious eaters, consuming a diverse range of small creatures on the beach, including sand crabs, amphipods, isopods, insects, and marine worms. Doing all this with just one leg in a place where food is scarce is no small feat,” said Khan.
Salute to the Sanderling:
“Salute to you, Sanderling,” Khan said in a LinkedIn post, Khan commending its spirit, courage, and determination during its flight to Kalba.
He extended well wishes for a safe journey south and a return trip by March as the bird heads back towards the Arctic.
The Name and Whitest in its Class:
The name Sanderling comes from Old English, meaning “sand-ploughman.” Its genus name, derived from Ancient Greek, refers to grey-colored waterside birds.
The specific name, alba, is Latin for “white.” The Sanderling is known for being the whitest in its class of small wanderers.
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