AN ISLAND VISITOR 
     
    
   
   
    
     BY GERALD MacDONALD 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Wimbrel or Hudsonian Curlew as 
     
     it is called in North America is one 
     
     of eight birds belonging to the curlew 
     
     family. The Wimbrel, although much ' 
     
     like the common curlew, is smaller and 
     
     less shy. 
     
    

    
     Wimbrels are seen occasionally in 
     
     Britain and a few pairs are known to 
     
     breed in the Orkney and Shetland Is— 
     
     lands off the coast of Scotland. But 
     
     the Wimbrels which stop off at John 
     
     MacDonald's blueberry fields at Her— 
     
     manville each September probably are 
     
     coming from breeding grounds around 
     
     ' Hudson Bay. 
     
    

    
     Wimbrels are birds of open country such as moors, steppes or 
     
     shorelines where they gather in flocks sometimes numbering in the hun— 
     
     dreds. This was the case last September at Hermanville where large 
     
     flocks descended on blueberry fields, gorging themselves on the left— 
     
     over berries prior to continuing their long flight south to their 
     
     wintering grounds in Argentina. I should add that berries are not the 
     
     only food of Wimbrels but they also eat shellfish, crustacea, insects, 
     
    

    
     ’ etc. A Hungarian study of the diet of Wimbrels has shown that their 
     
     diet consists of 96% insects. 
     
    

    
     On the breeding ground a nest is formed in low vegetation. Usually 
     
     4 eggs are laid and subsequently incubated by both parents. The young 
     
     are capable of leaving the nest shortly after hatching and can be seen 
     
     creeping away to hide under low vegetation when not feeding with their 
     
     parents. Enemies of young Wimbrels are crows, hawks, etc. but the 
     
     adults defend their young vigorously when compelled to do so. 
     
    

    
     Hopefully next fall the Wimbrels will again stop off at Mr. Mac— 
     
     Donald's blueberry fields on their migratory path to warmer southern 
     
     climes. 
     
    

    
     I extend an invitation to all you avid naturalists to journey East 
     
     to witness for yourself this unique fall spectacle. 
     
    

    
     LITERATURE CITED 
     
    

    
     Funk and Wagnalls Wildlife Encyclopedia 
     
    

    
     Complete Field Guide to American Wildlife (Collins)