Sandpipers are small shorebirds that are commonly found along beaches, mudflats, wetlands, and shorelines. When it comes to feeding sandpipers, there are some key things to keep in mind about their natural diet and nutritional needs in order to choose appropriate foods for them.
The Natural Diet of Sandpipers
In their natural habitat, sandpipers eat a varied diet consisting primarily of invertebrates that they pick out of mud or sand. Some common foods include:
- Insects and insect larvae
- Small crustaceans
- Mollusks
- Worms
- Algae
- Aquatic plants
- Fish eggs
Their slender bills are specially adapted for probing into sand or mud to catch small prey items. Sandpipers use sensory organs in the tips of their bills to detect buried invertebrates by touch or chemical cues. They will also pick food items off the surface, but most of their foraging consists of probing into the substrate.
In terms of specific species, the diet composition can vary depending on the sandpiper’s habitat. For example, semipalmated sandpipers feed mostly on tiny crustaceans and midges on tidal mudflats during migration stopovers. Meanwhile, spotted sandpipers consume more worms, snails, and insects while breeding and wintering along rocky coasts or inland wetlands.
Key Nutritional Considerations
When selecting foods for captive or domesticated sandpipers, it’s important to consider a few key nutrients that make up their natural diet:
- Protein – Sandpipers need a high protein diet, ranging from 20-40% protein depending on life stage and activity level. This provides amino acids for growth and maintenance. Insects, small fish, and worms are good natural sources.
- Calcium – For bone health and egg production, sandpipers require calcium levels of around 0.5-2% dry matter. Mollusks, crustaceans, and some plants contain ample calcium.
- Sodium – Sodium helps regulate fluid balance. Sandpipers obtain adequate sodium from marine and estuarine invertebrates. Providing some salt is recommended.
- Vitamin A – Important for vision, growth, and immune function. Can be obtained from greens, vegetables, and preformed vitamin A in animal matter like insects.
Additionally, sandpipers have very high metabolisms and require a lot of energy. They need calorie-dense foods to fuel their active lifestyles. Fatty prey items like worms, fish eggs, and small crustaceans help meet this demand.
Suitable Foods for Captive or Domesticated Sandpipers
Based on their natural diet and nutritional requirements, the following foods are generally considered appropriate for feeding captive or domesticated sandpipers in conservation, rehabilitation, or hobbyist settings:
- Live or dried mealworms
- Chopped earthworms
- Crickets
- Bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
- Daphnia
- Grasshoppers and locusts
- Waxworms and beetle larvae
- Minced raw shrimp or fish
- Canned sardines or mackerel
- Hard-boiled egg
- Cooked rice, quinoa, oats or other whole grains
- Chopped dark leafy greens
- Sprouts
- Chopped fruits and vegetables
- Split peas, lima beans, or lentils
- Finely chopped nuts or seeds
- Commercial insectivore or shorebird diet
- Pellet feeds formulated for sandpipers
- Marine fish flakes
- Calcium supplements like oyster shell and cuttlebone
A variety of live foods are ideal to mimic their natural invertebrate diet. Canned fish, cooked eggs, and commercial diets help meet protein requirements. Fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, and greens provide carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Calcium sources help support bone health. Offering a balanced diet with diversity supports all-around nutritional needs.
Foods to Avoid
Some foods are not recommended for sandpipers and can cause health issues:
- Refined grains like white rice or bread
- Sugary foods
- Too much starchy foods like potato
- Fatty meats like sausage or bacon
- Chocolate or candy
- Junk food, chips, or pretzels
- Avocado
- Excess salt
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
These foods are too high in sugar, salt, fat, or caffeine to be part of a healthy sandpiper diet. Stick to foods that mimic their natural diet and avoid processed junk foods.
Feeding Techniques
To encourage natural foraging behaviors, there are some feeding techniques to use for sandpipers in captivity:
- Scatter or hide food in sand, soil, or peat substrates
- Put insects or crustaceans into a shallow pan of water
- Place food under rocks or logs
- Hide mealworms or chopped food inside toilet paper rolls
- Put treats in a heavy bath mat for them to probe and pick pieces out of the tufts
Presenting foods in these ways provides mental enrichment and encourages natural foraging behaviors. Placing foods in substrates mimics how they would probe into mud or sand in the wild. Hiding foods also keeps them active and gives activity throughout the day.
Water Requirements
Fresh, clean water for drinking and bathing should always be available. Provide a shallow water dish that allows them to wade as they would at shorelines. Change the water daily to prevent contamination.
Misting or sprinkling some water on feed can help meet moisture requirements, but it should not eliminate offering a dedicated water source. Sandpipers sip and splash water frequently in nature, which serves important biological functions beyond hydration.
Special Considerations for Juveniles
Young sandpipers have higher protein requirements for growth. Up to 40% protein is recommended for chicks and juveniles. A 28-30% level is suitable for adults.
Offering small mealworms, bloodworms, crickets, or commercial chick starter feeds helps ensure proper protein for development. Calcium is also crucial, so include oyster shell and vitamin supplements.
Juveniles should be fed at more frequent intervals than adults to support growth. Start with 4-6 small meals spread throughout the day. As they mature, gradually shift to 2-3 feedings a day.
Tips for Transitioning Foods
When transitioning to a new diet, do so gradually over the course of 1-2 weeks. Start by mixing a small amount of the new food into the current diet.
Slowly increase the percentage of new food each day while decreasing the old. This gives their digestive system time to adjust to new proteins or fiber levels.
Monitor that they are eating well and watch for signs of an upset digestive tract like loose droppings. Slow the transition if any issues arise.
Try introducing new foods first thing in the morning when hunger is highest. This encourages acceptance of new items. Offer favorite foods too to prevent hunger if they refuse new items at first.
How Much to Feed Sandpipers
Determining appropriate portions for sandpipers depends on the individual bird’s age, body condition, and activity level. Here are some general feeding guidelines:
- Chicks under 3 weeks – Feed up to 6% of the chick’s body weight per day. Offer small, frequent meals.
- Juveniles 3-12 weeks – Up to 15% of body weight daily.
- Adults non-breeding – 5-10% of body weight split into 2-3 meals daily.
- Breeding adults – Up to 50% more than non-breeders.
Weigh the birds periodically to monitor body condition. Increase or decrease amounts as needed to maintain an ideal weight. Active sandpipers may need more food than sedentary ones.
Start with the lowest recommended amount and gradually increase until hunger is satisfied but not excessive. Leaving some food behind shows when requirements are being met.
Breeding birds have higher calorie needs but may also leave more uneaten food as they focus on mating and egg production.
Providing a Calcium Source
In addition to the main diet, provide a constant calcium source to balance the phosphorus in foods:
- Crushed oyster shell – Place in a separate dish free-choice.
- Cuttlebone – Anchor cuttlebone pieces in the enclosure for nibbling.
- Calcium powder – Can sprinkle on foods 2-3 times a week.
- Calcium-enriched grain mixes – Ensure proper Ca ratio.
Aim for a calcium to phosphorus ratio between 1:1 to 2:1 for optimal bone health and development. Lettuce, fruits, seeds, and insects are higher in phosphorus, so calcium supplementation balances this.
Monitor the intake of calcium sources weekly. Remove and replace cuttlebone pieces if worn down. Empty and refresh oyster shell dishes regularly.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key tips for feeding pet or captive sandpipers:
- Offer diverse protein sources – Mealworms, bloodworms, shrimp, insects, fish, egg
- Include produce for vitamins – Greens, sprouts, veggies, fruits
- Incorporate whole grains, beans, nuts – For carbohydrates
- Hide or scatter foods to encourage foraging
- Always provide calcium sources
- Gradually transition new foods over days or weeks
- Monitor portions based on age, weight, and activity level
- Provide fresh, clean drinking water at all times
Following these nutrition and feeding guidelines helps support the health and wellbeing of captive sandpipers while meeting their natural dietary needs.
Sample Feeding Schedule
Here is a general sample feeding schedule for captive adult sandpipers based on best practices:
| Time | Food(s) |
|---|---|
| 8 AM | 1 tbsp mealworms and bloodworms mixed, hidden in substrates |
| 11 AM | 1 tbsp minced shrimp, 1 tsp greens, 1 tsp chopped apple |
| 2 PM | 2 tsp commercial insectivore diet or sandpiper pellets |
| 5 PM | 1 tbsp crickets, 1 tbsp chopped hard-boiled egg with calcium powder |
This provides two larger meals in the morning and evening, with smaller amounts in between. Feed can be scattered to encourage natural foraging behaviors. A calcium source is provided daily with one meal. Fruits and vegetables add variety.
Amounts can be adjusted up or down depending on the bird’s age, weight, and health status. This schedule could be altered to suit different households and routines as well.
FAQs
Can I feed sandpipers bread or chicken?
Bread and chicken are not recommended mainstays for sandpipers. Bread has little nutritional value for them and can cause digestive upset. Chicken may be fatty compared to their normal diet. Small amounts of cooked chicken can supplement insect-based proteins but should not be a primary food.
How often should sandpipers eat?
Most sandpipers do best with 2-3 small meals spaced throughout the day. Young chicks need more frequent feeding, about 4-6 times daily. Wild sandpipers forage almost constantly, but captive birds do well with scheduled meal times to ensure adequate nutrition.
What fruits and vegetables can I offer?
Chopped dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, Swiss chard are excellent. Sprouts, zucchini, bell pepper, carrots, winter squash, and berries can provide variety. Limit high sugar fruits like banana, melon, and grapes.
Can I use dried insects?
Dried insects like mealworms and bloodworms work well for convenience, especially mixed with fresh foods. Soak in water prior to feeding to rehydrate them. Dried items lack some nutrients compared to fresh but are an acceptable addition along with live insects and other proteins.
How do I know if a sandpiper is overweight or underweight?
Weigh sandpipers weekly and monitor keel bone shape. The keel bone running down the breast should feel rounded but not excessively protruding or thick. Overweight birds will have very smooth, filled in keels. Underweight birds have sharp, prominent keels.
Conclusion
Sandpipers have unique dietary requirements as shorebirds, consuming a mix of invertebrates, fish, and plant material. Providing an assortment of proteins like insects, shellfish, and worms is key, along with produce for added nutrients. Scattering foods encourages natural foraging in captivity. Calcium supplementation is also vital for bone health. Following these nutrition guidelines tailored to sandpipers helps maintain them in optimal condition for longevity and wellness.
