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Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group Jul 2025

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

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Sabine's Gulls Xema Sabini Outside Of Their Main Wintering Areas Are Not Necessarily Vagrants, Jonatas H.F. Prado, Gabriel Canani, Pedro V. Castilho, Nicholas W. Daudt Jul 2025

Sabine's Gulls Xema Sabini Outside Of Their Main Wintering Areas Are Not Necessarily Vagrants, Jonatas H.F. Prado, Gabriel Canani, Pedro V. Castilho, Nicholas W. Daudt

Marine Ornithology

We reviewed published and unpublished ‘vagrant’ (herein referred to as ‘unusual’) records of Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini worldwide and discuss these records according to age, marine productivity/fishing grounds, and migration corridors. Of the 151 unusual records, 135 (89%) were in or near areas with high productivity and/or known fishing grounds; 10 out of 14 documented records were young birds in their first or second migration, and the ‘unusual’ areas identified in this study could have been reached through known migration pathways used by other bird species. The fact that the majority of records are associated with productive/fishing zones (and are …

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Fishing Gear-Related Injuries And Mortality Of Seabirds In Coastal Northern Argentina, María Paula Berón, Juan Pablo Seco Pon Jul 2025

Fishing Gear-Related Injuries And Mortality Of Seabirds In Coastal Northern Argentina, María Paula Berón, Juan Pablo Seco Pon

Marine Ornithology

Worldwide, many seabirds are killed annually when they become entangled in gear used in coastal fisheries. This includes seabirds along the coast of Argentina, where recreational fishing occurs year-round and where little attention has been paid to the issue. We report here results for a study conducted in the vicinity of Mar del Plata Harbor and Mar Chiquita Lagoon in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, during the non-breeding season (March–September 2016). We found and inspected 46 individuals of ten species with moderate (30%), severe (46%), and lethal (24%) lesions from fishing gear entanglement. Coastal birds (83%) dominated the tally, with gulls …

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Threats And Conservation Status Of Common And Roseate Terns Sterna Hirundo/S. Dougallii In The Azores: A Case Study For Terceira Island, Lucas Lamelas-López, Malgorzata Pietrzak, Miguel Ferreira, Veronica C. Neves Jul 2025

Threats And Conservation Status Of Common And Roseate Terns Sterna Hirundo/S. Dougallii In The Azores: A Case Study For Terceira Island, Lucas Lamelas-López, Malgorzata Pietrzak, Miguel Ferreira, Veronica C. Neves

Marine Ornithology

The Azores Archipelago holds the second most important population of Roseate Terns in the North Atlantic. However, the size of the population has been decreasing. In this study, we used remote-sensing cameras and visits to the main colonies of Common Terns Sterna hirundo and Roseate Terns S. dougallii on Terceira Island to identify the causes of breeding failure. Nest depredation by introduced mammals, particularly rats and cats, was the main cause of breeding failure, leading, in some cases, to the complete destruction of the colony. Additional threats included nest disturbance by humans and dogs, which caused the destruction of some …

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Using Remote Video Technology To Study Environmental Factors Influencing Productivity Of Black-Legged Kittiwakes Rissa Tridactyla, Sarah A. Tanedo, Tuula E. Hollmén, John M. Maniscalco, Sadie E.G. Ulman Jul 2025

Using Remote Video Technology To Study Environmental Factors Influencing Productivity Of Black-Legged Kittiwakes Rissa Tridactyla, Sarah A. Tanedo, Tuula E. Hollmén, John M. Maniscalco, Sadie E.G. Ulman

Marine Ornithology

Monitoring seabirds and their responses to ecosystem change provides essential information for understanding the reasons behind any changes in productivity or populations. However, many species nest in remote locations, which poses logistical challenges for long-term studies. Remote cameras offer an opportunity to confront this issue. The Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla (kittiwake) has been used as an indicator of changes in its environment and is a prime candidate for monitoring via remote cameras. To investigate the potential for camera application, we used a remote camera system to collect six years (2010–2015) of reproductive data from a sub-colony of kittiwakes in Resurrection …

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A Test Of Mechanisms Of Population Differentiation In Gannets (Morus Spp.) Using Comparative Phylogeography And Morphometrics, Victoria L. Friesen, Rebecca Brunt, James A. Morris-Pocock, Drew Sauve, Allan J. Baker, Timothy P. Birt, William S. Davidson, Kyle H. Elliott, William A. Montevecchi Jul 2025

A Test Of Mechanisms Of Population Differentiation In Gannets (Morus Spp.) Using Comparative Phylogeography And Morphometrics, Victoria L. Friesen, Rebecca Brunt, James A. Morris-Pocock, Drew Sauve, Allan J. Baker, Timothy P. Birt, William S. Davidson, Kyle H. Elliott, William A. Montevecchi

Marine Ornithology

The relative importance of gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection in driving genetic divergence of local populations, as well as the factors that disrupt gene flow in natural populations, are uncertain. Comparative analyses enable us to test explicit hypotheses regarding the roles of these factors. Gannets (Morus spp.) include three morphologically and ecologically similar seabird species: the Cape Gannet M. capensis, which breeds in southern Africa; the Australasian Gannet M. serrator, which breeds in southeastern Australia and New Zealand; and the Northern Gannet M. bassanus, which breeds in the North Atlantic. We assessed the extent of differentiation in mitochondrial …

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Normal Physical Parameters Characterizing Galapagos Marine Birds, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui, Patricio D. Carrera-Játiva, Soledad Sarzosa, Edison Encalada, Richar Rodríguez-Hidalgo, Erika (Travis) Crook, Christian Sevilla Jul 2025

Normal Physical Parameters Characterizing Galapagos Marine Birds, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui, Patricio D. Carrera-Játiva, Soledad Sarzosa, Edison Encalada, Richar Rodríguez-Hidalgo, Erika (Travis) Crook, Christian Sevilla

Marine Ornithology

The Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus (GAPE), Flightless Cormorant Phalacrocorax harrisi (FLCO), and Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata (WAAL) are marine birds that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. To provide health information for these three species, baseline data on several physiological parameters were collected non-invasively—from individuals and populations appearing to be healthy—during the course of physical examinations that were conducted from 2011–2019. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and body condition (weight vs. morphometric measurements) were analyzed as a function of age and sex. Mean heart rate differed significantly between juveniles and adults in all three species. Respiratory rate and body …

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On-Land Foraging By Leach's Storm Petrels Oceanodroma Leucorhoa Coincides With Anomalous Weather Conditions, Kyle J.N. D’Entremont, Robert J. Blackmore, Sydney M. Collins, Dave Brown, Ian L. Jones, Bruce Mactavish, Sabina I. Wilhelm, William A. Montevecchi Jul 2025

On-Land Foraging By Leach's Storm Petrels Oceanodroma Leucorhoa Coincides With Anomalous Weather Conditions, Kyle J.N. D’Entremont, Robert J. Blackmore, Sydney M. Collins, Dave Brown, Ian L. Jones, Bruce Mactavish, Sabina I. Wilhelm, William A. Montevecchi

Marine Ornithology

We describe the first known documentation of on-land foraging by Leach’s Storm Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa, a behaviour that has been documented only once before among members of the family Hydrobatidae. During a rain/windstorm from 15 to 17 July 2020 in eastern Newfoundland, individuals fed on coastally spawning and beach-cast capelin Mallotus villosus. This behaviour occurred in conjunction with a marine heatwave in the species’ foraging range. Examination showed that wrecked birds were emaciated with negligible stomach contents. This finding, combined with the abnormal weather and foraging behaviour, suggests that these birds were in a weakened state preceding stranding in coastal …

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No Evidence Of Habitat Effect On Clutch Size, Egg Quality, And Hatching Success Of The Yellow-Legged Gull Larus Michahellis At A Micro-Spatial Scale, Sergio Delgado, Nere Zorrozua, Juan Arizaga Jul 2025

No Evidence Of Habitat Effect On Clutch Size, Egg Quality, And Hatching Success Of The Yellow-Legged Gull Larus Michahellis At A Micro-Spatial Scale, Sergio Delgado, Nere Zorrozua, Juan Arizaga

Marine Ornithology

In colonial seabirds, the nest substrate that is available and, in particular, the vegetation cover around the nest, are important environmental factors that drive an individual’s nesting selection process and, ultimately, reproductive performance. Using data collected during three consecutive years in a Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis colony from the Bay of Biscay, Spain, we tested whether clutch size, egg volume, and hatching success covaried with the proportion of vegetation cover around nests. We found no effect of vegetation cover on breeding performance. Laying date showed a positive effect on egg volume and a negative effect on hatching success and the …

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Birds Depredating Stingrays And Skates (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea): New Observations And A Review Of Records, James A. Fitzsimons Jul 2025

Birds Depredating Stingrays And Skates (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea): New Observations And A Review Of Records, James A. Fitzsimons

Marine Ornithology

Gulls (Larus spp.) have a diet that includes fish, but they are also often dietary generalists. A limited number of dietary studies have been undertaken on the Pacific Gull Larus pacificus, which are endemic to Australia. Here, an observation of depredation by a Pacific Gull on a Southern Fiddler Ray Trygonorrhina dumerilii is described. Prior to this observation, rays and skates had not been recorded in the diet of Pacific Gulls, and there are few records in the literature of depredation by gulls (Laridae) or other bird families on species of cartilaginous fishes from the superorder Batoidea. However, there is …

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Hatching Success Of Common Murres Uria Aalge Is Linked To The Number Of Neighbours And Resource Availability, Amy L. Irvine, Julia E. Gulka, Gail K. Davoren Jul 2025

Hatching Success Of Common Murres Uria Aalge Is Linked To The Number Of Neighbours And Resource Availability, Amy L. Irvine, Julia E. Gulka, Gail K. Davoren

Marine Ornithology

When breeding within densely populated colonies, seabirds benefit from increased offspring protection from predators, but intraspecific competition for resources may outweigh these benefits. We tested whether the number of breeding-site neighbours and days of predator presence influenced the breeding performance of Common Murres Uria aalge at two different-sized colonies off the northeastern Newfoundland coast: Cabot Island (10000 breeding pairs; < 10 km offshore) and Funk Island (500000 breeding pairs; ~60 km offshore). Gulls, the main predators of murre eggs/chicks, inhabit both islands in similar numbers. During July–August 2018, camera traps placed at topographically similar plots on each colony recorded breeding performance metrics (i.e., hatching, fledging, reproductive success), number of breeding-site neighbours, and daily presence of gulls. Hatching success was lower at Funk Island (64.7%) than Cabot Island (96.2%), but nearly all hatched chicks fledged at both colonies. Lower hatching success at Funk Island was due to higher egg abandonment and predation. It was also associated with fewer breeding-site neighbours, including non-brooding mates and non-breeders, along with higher gull presence (96.6% of all gull sightings at both colonies). Fewer neighbours at Funk Island may have resulted from mates and non-breeding murres spending more time at sea due to longer distances to predictable foraging sites and higher conspecific densities relative to Cabot Island. In turn, with fewer breeding-site neighbours at Funk Island, parents appeared less able to defend against or deter gull predation. Although Funk Island has special conservation status, protection of Cabot Island may also be important for the long-term conservation of murres in Newfoundland.

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Abnormal Plumage Colouration In Spot-Billed Pelicans Pelecanus Philippensis At Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, India, Vaithianathan Kannan Jul 2025

Abnormal Plumage Colouration In Spot-Billed Pelicans Pelecanus Philippensis At Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, India, Vaithianathan Kannan

Marine Ornithology

Plumage colour variation is rarely observed in the Pelecaniformes and had not been previously recorded for the Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis. Observed at Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, India, I describe strikingly coloured Spot-billed Pelicans having dark brown plumage, pink coloration on the bill, and black feet, but having normal eye colour

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Unusual Mass Stranding Event Of White-Chinned Petrels Procellaria Aequinoctialis In Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil, Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas, Emanuel C. Ferreira, Cristiana C. A. Assumpção, Patrícia P. Serafini Jul 2025

Unusual Mass Stranding Event Of White-Chinned Petrels Procellaria Aequinoctialis In Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil, Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas, Emanuel C. Ferreira, Cristiana C. A. Assumpção, Patrícia P. Serafini

Marine Ornithology

Bycatch is a significant threat for albatrosses and petrels in general but especially within Brazilian waters. As part of a monitoring program, Projeto de Monitoramento de Praias da Bacia de Santos (PMP-BS), an unusually high number of White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis was recorded at Santa Catarina Island: 72 birds from August 2015 to July 2016 (60 dead and 12 alive) and 31 birds from 29 December 2015 to 05 January 2016 (28 dead and 3 alive). Evaluation of the carcasses showed that 12 birds had external evidence of anthropogenic interaction, and necropsy demonstrated that at least two had perforation of …

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Kidney Lesions Related To Trematode Infestation In A Cabot's Ternâ Thalasseus Acuflavidus Found In Brazil, Rafaela N.R. Cardoso, Hassan Jerdy, Paula Baldassin, Eulógio C.Q. Carvalho, Max R. Werneck Jul 2025

Kidney Lesions Related To Trematode Infestation In A Cabot's Ternâ Thalasseus Acuflavidus Found In Brazil, Rafaela N.R. Cardoso, Hassan Jerdy, Paula Baldassin, Eulógio C.Q. Carvalho, Max R. Werneck

Marine Ornithology

We describe the occurrence of the trematode Renicola sp. associated with kidney lesions in a Cabot’s Tern Thalasseus acuflavidus from Brazil. During necropsy, we observed renal paleness, subpleural hemorrhage at the edges of the organ, and severe dilation of both ureters. Histological analysis revealed distension of the branches of the ureters, with partial obstruction due to the presence of the parasites and compression of adjacent tubules. The infection did not likely cause the tern's death.

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Reviews: The Art Of The Bird: The History Of Ornithological Art Through Forty Artists (Lederer, R.J.); Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines And The Future Of Global Fisheries (Pauly, D.); Ta Life On Our Planet: My Witness Statement And A Vision For The Future (Attenborough, D.), Abby Mcbride, Michelle Paleczny, Phillip Taylor Jul 2025

Reviews: The Art Of The Bird: The History Of Ornithological Art Through Forty Artists (Lederer, R.J.); Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines And The Future Of Global Fisheries (Pauly, D.); Ta Life On Our Planet: My Witness Statement And A Vision For The Future (Attenborough, D.), Abby Mcbride, Michelle Paleczny, Phillip Taylor

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

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Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group Jul 2025

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

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Fishy Tales: Behaviour Of Schooling Fish Escaping From Terns, Kees Hulsman, Gurudeo Anand Tularam Jul 2025

Fishy Tales: Behaviour Of Schooling Fish Escaping From Terns, Kees Hulsman, Gurudeo Anand Tularam

Marine Ornithology

The aim of this study is to develop a better understanding of seabird foraging behaviour and the anti-predator behaviour of their prey. Studies of seabirds’ foraging and prey-capture behaviour, as it relates to the evasive and escape behaviour of schooling fish, are sparse. Our study was carried out at One Tree Reef on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. A school of hardyheads Pranesus capricornensis sheltered in the shallows over the sand flats in front of the research station for 14 non-consecutive days. In that time, Lesser Crested Terns Thalasseus bengalensis were observed for 10 hours from …

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Southern Influx Of The Pantropical Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria Bulwerii Into The Tasman Sea, Simon B. Z. Gorta Jul 2025

Southern Influx Of The Pantropical Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria Bulwerii Into The Tasman Sea, Simon B. Z. Gorta

Marine Ornithology

Seabirds exploit marine habitats for resources, responding to many complex environmental signals that ultimately drive their distributions. Occasionally, influxes of seabird species to regions outside their normal range occur and determining the drivers of these patterns can aid in understanding their ecology and their conservation. I documented five birdwatching observations of Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii in the Tasman Sea between 24 January and 08 March 2020, roughly 2000 km south of their core range. Based on demographic, environmental, and anecdotal observations of seabirds, cetaceans, and bait fish, I suggest that the influx was most likely resource-driven, rather than accidental, age-related, …

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Morphometric Sex Determination Of Breeding Adult Royal Thalasseus Maximus And Sandwich Terns T. Sandvicensis In Louisiana, Megan Nepshinsky, Sabrina S. Taylor, Jeff S. Liechty, Ashlee K. Minor, Eva D. Windhoffer, Aaron R. Pierce Jul 2025

Morphometric Sex Determination Of Breeding Adult Royal Thalasseus Maximus And Sandwich Terns T. Sandvicensis In Louisiana, Megan Nepshinsky, Sabrina S. Taylor, Jeff S. Liechty, Ashlee K. Minor, Eva D. Windhoffer, Aaron R. Pierce

Marine Ornithology

Many seabirds have sex-specific traits, including survival, philopatry, behavior, and diet, information that is essential for effective conservation strategies. The difficulty of sexing monomorphic seabirds, however, has resulted in a lack of information on these important traits and an incomplete understanding of the ecology of many species. We used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sexing approach to determine if Royal Thalasseus maximus and Sandwich terns T. sandvicensis in Louisiana, USA can be accurately sexed using morphometrics. DNA samples and morphological measurements were obtained from Royal Terns (n = 106) and Sandwich Terns (n = 112) to accurately identify sex and …

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The Rarest Alcid: Status And History Of The Guadalupe Murrelet Synthliboramphus Hypoleucus At Isla Guadalupe, Mexico (1892-2007), Darrell L. Whitworth, Harry R. Carter, Eduardo Palacios, Josh S. Koepke, William R. Mciver, Christine D. Hamilton, Gerard J. Mcchesney, Franklin Gress Jul 2025

The Rarest Alcid: Status And History Of The Guadalupe Murrelet Synthliboramphus Hypoleucus At Isla Guadalupe, Mexico (1892-2007), Darrell L. Whitworth, Harry R. Carter, Eduardo Palacios, Josh S. Koepke, William R. Mciver, Christine D. Hamilton, Gerard J. Mcchesney, Franklin Gress

Marine Ornithology

The Guadalupe Murrelet (GUMU) Synthliboramphus hypoleucus is the rarest alcid in the world (< 5000 pairs), with regular breeding documented only at Islas Guadalupe (hereafter, “Guadalupe”) and San Benito off the west-central coast of Baja California, Mexico. GUMU were discovered at Guadalupe in 1892, but by then feral cats Felis catus had already devastated the population and limited most nesting to predator-free islets just offshore. Despite its status as the only major GUMU breeding island, the population at Guadalupe was never adequately surveyed during the 20th century. In March–April 2007, we used survey techniques developed specifically for Synthliboramphus murrelets to assess the status and distribution of GUMU at Guadalupe. We counted 1511 GUMU during spotlight surveys in waters around the island. GUMU were abundant near the islets, but they were also relatively numerous near suitable breeding habitats off the north and south coasts of Guadalupe proper. Searches on four islets yielded 93 nests, most at Islotes Zapato (66; 71%) and Morro Prieto (21; 23%), where scores of abandoned eggs indicated intense competition for nests. We found seven nests on Guadalupe proper, the first proof of breeding there since 1950, but we also found 68 carcasses that confirmed significant predation by cats and raptors. A spotlight survey correction factor yielded 2418 breeding pairs (95% confidence interval = 1662–4367) at Guadalupe and its islets, which accounted for ~90% of the world breeding population (1822–4789 pairs). About 1150–1750 pairs were estimated on Islotes Zapato and Morro Prieto in 1968, but comparable data were lacking to assess historical or recent changes in population size. Basic studies of GUMU biology have only recently been initiated and should be a continuing priority. Recent conservation actions have benefited the native biota of Guadalupe, but further measures, such as localized rodent control and robust biosecurity on the islets, should be considered to mitigate serious threats to the vulnerable GUMU population and other seabirds.

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Estimating Streaked Shearwater Calonectris Leucomelas Abundance In The Republic Of Korea Using Automated Acoustic Recorders, Kirk A. Hart, Steffen Oppel, Grant R.W. Humphries, Andrew Blackburn, Ki-Baek Nam Jul 2025

Estimating Streaked Shearwater Calonectris Leucomelas Abundance In The Republic Of Korea Using Automated Acoustic Recorders, Kirk A. Hart, Steffen Oppel, Grant R.W. Humphries, Andrew Blackburn, Ki-Baek Nam

Marine Ornithology

Traditional methods to assess population size in seabirds are applicable only to species that nest in visible locations, leaving cryptic nocturnal, burrow-nesting seabirds underrepresented in typical long-term population monitoring programs. Alternative methods to count burrow-nesting birds, however, are extremely labor-intensive and therefore are applicable only to small and possibly unrepresentative areas, and may have negative effects on burrow-nesting populations. We suggest the use of automatic acoustic recorders as a possible survey technique to overcome logistic difficulties of research of seabirds on remote islands in the Republic of Korea, where funding for ecological research is extremely limited but where globally important …

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Changes In The Population Size Of Yellow-Legged Gull Larus Michahellis At Essaouira And Mogador Island, West-Central Morocco, Siham Bellout, Moulay Abdeljalil Ait Baamrane, Ahmed Aamiri, Mohamed Aourir Jul 2025

Changes In The Population Size Of Yellow-Legged Gull Larus Michahellis At Essaouira And Mogador Island, West-Central Morocco, Siham Bellout, Moulay Abdeljalil Ait Baamrane, Ahmed Aamiri, Mohamed Aourir

Marine Ornithology

This study concerns changes in the size and population structure of a Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis colony, last assessed in 1985 in the city of Essaouira and on Mogador Island, Morocco. Using point-transect sampling, the average density measured in 2019 was 53.5 ± 2.8 birds/ha (5350 ± 280 birds/km2), which translates to a population size of almost 30 000 birds. The highest density occurred on Mogador Island, with 217.2 ± 28.3 birds/ha, a much higher density than previously recorded. The Yellow-legged Gull breeding population in the Essaouira–Mogador Island area has grown 3.58% per year since 1985, with an annual average …

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Low Prevalence Of Plasmodium And Haemoproteus In Resident Seabirds From Oceanic Islands Off The Brazilian Coast, Philippe N. Mariano, Gisele P. M. Dantas Jul 2025

Low Prevalence Of Plasmodium And Haemoproteus In Resident Seabirds From Oceanic Islands Off The Brazilian Coast, Philippe N. Mariano, Gisele P. M. Dantas

Marine Ornithology

Bird pathogens promote morbidity and mortality that affect bird population stability. In this context, the present study aimed to detect blood intracellular parasites by molecular methods in four species of seabirds, Masked Booby Sula dactylatra, Red-footed Booby S. sula, Brown Booby S. leucogaster, and Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens, on the Brazilian coast. Blood samples were collected in the Archipelagos of São Pedro and São Paulo, Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. Genomic DNA was extracted with proteinase K digestion and purification with phenol and chloroform. For each sample, three independent polymerase chain reactions were performed …

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Multidecadal Comparison Of Red-Footed Booby Sula Sula Diet At Ulupa'u Crater, O'Ahu, Hawai'i, Sarah E. Donahue, Josh Adams, K. David Hyrenbach Jul 2025

Multidecadal Comparison Of Red-Footed Booby Sula Sula Diet At Ulupa'u Crater, O'Ahu, Hawai'i, Sarah E. Donahue, Josh Adams, K. David Hyrenbach

Marine Ornithology

We describe the diet of Red-footed Boobies Sula sula nesting at Ulupa‘u Crater, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i based on 106 regurgitations collected during 2014 and 2015. We also compare our results to a diet study at this colony five decades earlier. Both studies indicate that flying squid (Ommastrephidae) and flyingfish (Exocoetidae) are important prey for this population while provisioning chicks. In particular, Purpleback Flying Squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis occurred in the majority (> 70%) of the recent regurgitation samples, and their size (mantle length < 11 cm) indicates that they were mostly juveniles. Moreover, the size distribution of the squid prey varied by year, indicating inter-annual variability in the phenology of spawning and larval development. This study highlights the reliance of Red-footed Boobies on juveniles of this poorly-studied squid and underscores their value as biological samplers of epipelagic fish and squid within their foraging ranges.

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Non-Breeding Movements And Foraging Ecology Of The Black Guillemot Cepphus Grylle In Atlantic Canada, Julia E. Baak, Marty L. Leonard, Carina Gjerdrum, Mark D. Dodds, Robert A. Ronconi Jul 2025

Non-Breeding Movements And Foraging Ecology Of The Black Guillemot Cepphus Grylle In Atlantic Canada, Julia E. Baak, Marty L. Leonard, Carina Gjerdrum, Mark D. Dodds, Robert A. Ronconi

Marine Ornithology

Understanding the movements of seabirds, which are important ecological indicators, can provide new insights into physical and biological aspects of the marine environment. This information can also be used in planning marine conservation and oil spill response strategies. Though Black Guillemots Cepphus grylle are widely distributed in the coastal waters of eastern and arctic Canada, little is known about their movements during the non-breeding season. We used a combination of global location sensors and stable-isotope analyses on Black Guillemots breeding on Country Island, Nova Scotia, Canada and on Kent Island, New Brunswick, Canada to examine their non-breeding movements and trophic …

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Population Decline And Breeding Distribution Changes Of Magnificent Frigatebirds Fregata Magnificens In Baja California Sur, Gerardo Marrón, Adriana Hernández-Alvarez, Roberto Carmona, Sergio Águila Jul 2025

Population Decline And Breeding Distribution Changes Of Magnificent Frigatebirds Fregata Magnificens In Baja California Sur, Gerardo Marrón, Adriana Hernández-Alvarez, Roberto Carmona, Sergio Águila

Marine Ornithology

The Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens (MaFr) is a tropical seabird species that is widely distributed along the mid-latitude coasts of the Americas. Historically, its most important breeding location has been Estero Las Tijeras in the Magdalena Lagoon complex (MLC), Baja California Sur, Mexico. Our recent data indicate a severe (~96%) population decline at this location. In 2002–2003, 33535 MaFr were counted in all of the MLC, and historical data (1985–1986) support the maintenance of consistently high numbers of MaFr in this region over time. Yet, MaFr abundance dropped severely—to ~1 200 individuals—in 2015. This low abundance persisted into 2017, when …

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Stable Isotope Analysis Of Multiple Tissues From Chick Carcasses Of Three Pygoscelid Penguins In Antarctica, Yanina A. Ciriani, Mariana A. Juáres, M. Mercedes Santos, Steven D. Emslie Jul 2025

Stable Isotope Analysis Of Multiple Tissues From Chick Carcasses Of Three Pygoscelid Penguins In Antarctica, Yanina A. Ciriani, Mariana A. Juáres, M. Mercedes Santos, Steven D. Emslie

Marine Ornithology

Many types of animal tissues are increasingly being used for stable isotope analysis, with their application dependent on the time frame they reflect and their availability for collection. Here, we investigated the isotopic values (δ13C and δ15N) of four tissues (feather, skin, toenail, and bone) collected from fledgling-period chick carcasses of three species of pygoscelid penguins to compare the variability and accuracy of the data among tissues. Samples were collected at 25 de Mayo/King George Island during the 2017/18 austral summer. Chick carcasses are commonly found at active penguin colonies, and “opportunistic sampling” can easily be performed without disturbing nesting …

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Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group Jul 2025

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

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Time-Lapse Imagery Of Peruvian Boobies Sula Variegata Reveals Nest Abandonment Caused By Tick Hyperinfestation, Cristina Burga-Domínguez, Diego D. Gonzales-Delcarpio, Carlos B. Zavalaga Jul 2025

Time-Lapse Imagery Of Peruvian Boobies Sula Variegata Reveals Nest Abandonment Caused By Tick Hyperinfestation, Cristina Burga-Domínguez, Diego D. Gonzales-Delcarpio, Carlos B. Zavalaga

Marine Ornithology

Severe tick infestation in seabird colonies causes discomfort in reproductive adults, offspring mortality, and nest abandonment. This study used time-lapse cameras to examine the relationship between Ornithodoros amblus tick infestation and Peruvian Booby Sula variegata nest abandonment in four locations along the Peruvian coast between August 2016 and November 2018. The percent occurrence of discomfort in nesting birds (preening and standing on the nest) recorded by the cameras was used as an indicator of tick infestation. The tick density inside and outside the abandoned colonies was also evaluated. In five of the six colonies, complete nest abandonment occurred over an …

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Seasonal Changes In Diving And Flying Activities Of Rhinoceros Auklets Cerorhinca Monocerata Throughout The Non-Breeding Period, Ui Shimabukuro, Akinori Takahashi Jul 2025

Seasonal Changes In Diving And Flying Activities Of Rhinoceros Auklets Cerorhinca Monocerata Throughout The Non-Breeding Period, Ui Shimabukuro, Akinori Takahashi

Marine Ornithology

To understand how migratory seabirds meet the energetic challenges associated with wing molt and wintering, a full annual cycle behavioral study is needed. We studied the diving and flying activities of three Rhinoceros Auklets Cerorhinca monocerata migrating in the northwestern Pacific. The auklets decreased daily flight time and dive depth for seven weeks from the end of summer, presumably associated with primary feather molt. In winter, they increased dive depth (~81 m) and daily dive time. We suggest that Rhinoceros Auklets adjust their diving and flying behaviors in response to wing molt and energy demands in winter

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