(Sorry 'bout that last one, buttons were a little too close. . .)
For what it's worth, I don't know that I've ever seen a phalarope
turn in only one direction. I've watched them on freshwater ponds at
Klammath NWR, and in saltwater marshes and bays on the California
coast. My recollection is that they'll turn in one direction,
straighten out to move to a new spot, then turn in the same or
opposite direction. There doesn't appear to be any pattern as to
when they'll turn in which direction.
jw

> Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 08:58:45 -0800
> Reply-to: mprice at mindlink.bc.ca
> From: mprice at mindlink.bc.ca (Michael Price)
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Re: Grey Phalarope in SA

> Hi Tweets,
>
> Richard and other seabird experts, Even though the question of Coriolis
> force on spinning phalaropes may have been in the "how much wood could a
> woodchuck chuck?'-category of scientific query, there may be something to
> it. If not Coriolis-affected, are phalaropes 'left- or right-handed'? Seen
> 'em spin on calm saltwater out in Georgia Strait.
>
> Anyhow, here's Peter Hirsch's address:
>
> <lopezba at mail.atnet.co.at>
>
> Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
> Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
> mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
> Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
>
>
Jane Westervelt
Moscow, ID