Storm events will simultaneously reduce foraging opportunities and affect movements of Red Knots ( Calidris canutus ) in the intertidal Wadden Sea

Strong westerly winds significantly reduce foraging opportunities for Red Knots (Calidris canutus islandica) in the Wadden Sea, a critical UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study found that such storms decrease exposed mudflat availability by up to 50% and benthic prey biomass by 44%, forcing birds to roost closer to foraging grounds under adverse conditions. However, tailwinds or elevated water levels prompt longer-distance flights to roosts. Using the WATLAS reverse-GPS system, researchers analyzed wind-driven changes in habitat availability and movement patterns, revealing how climate-induced extreme weather disrupts energy balances for migratory shorebirds. These findings underscore growing challenges for Red Knots due to increased storm frequency, with broader implications for intertidal ecosystems globally.

Keuning, T., Gobbens, E., Nathan, R., & Bijleveld, A. I. (2026). Storm events will simultaneously reduce foraging opportunities and affect movements of Red Knots ( Calidris canutus ) in the intertidal Wadden Sea. Ibis, 168(2), 633–648. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.70028