Eurasian oystercatcher, pied avocet and dark bellied brent goose. Shore birds include&colon; avocet, piping plover, spotted sandpiper, willet, common snipe and killdeer. Three bird species occur in internationally important numbers&colon; common shelduck, pied avocet and black-tailed godwit. The pied avocet is a striking white wader with bold black markings. The pied avocet was extirpated as a breeding species in Great Britain by 1840. Sea birds like the pied avocet use to hatch there. The pied avocet is the emblem of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The American avocet is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Shore birds such as the American avocet hunt tadpoles and insects in the shallow water. The line is named after the pied avocet, which lives in the estuary. Rare birds such as the avocet and red-billed tropicbird breed on the peninsula. Other common names include "black-capped avocet", "Eurasian avocet" or just "avocet". Brine flies sustain the avocet during its breeding season. The avocet commonly preens its feathers - this is considered to be a comfort movement. "Avocet&colon; Exocet" from some British birdwatchers.