Max's Grand Adventure: Heading Home Getting to the U.S. Around the second week of April, Max reaches the mainland of the United States. His shortened route has brought him to the Gulf Coast states of Texas and Louisiana, an area frequented by a number of other migrating birds. The warm spring climate means that grasshoppers, insects and other foods are already abundant. Max darts about, running after prey, then stopping to eat. As he hunts for snails and other insects, the southern sun shines down and warms his flecked plumage. After filling up on grasshoppers and earthworms, Max is ready to continue his journey back to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. His route leads him along the Mississippi River Valley and across the Great Plains. This is the type of habitat Max prefers: short, sparse vegetation, such as native short grass prairie and steppes, pasture, even golf courses. Max also favors plowed or burnt fields. Max seeks these spots out because they are relatively safe. Peregrine falcons, which are fierce hunters and very adept at catching golden-plovers, need high places, like telephone poles or trees to perch and look for prey, There are few perches among the open areas that Max chooses for rest stops. Sadly, every year as the golden-plovers make their way across the American heartland, there is less and less safe habitat available to them. City sprawl and suburban development gobble up some of the places that provide habitat for Max. Previous Page  |  Next Page Back to "Max's Grand Adventure" Index All About Max  |  Max's Grand Adventure From Alaska to our Backyards  |  Amazing Arctic Birds  |  Links