Why is it called Storm Petrel?
Any of various small sea birds of the family Hydrobatidae having dark feathers and lighter underparts, also known as Mother Carey’s Chicken. ETYMOLOGY: The birds got the name storm petrel or stormy petrel because old-time sailors believed their appearance foreshadowed a storm.
Do petrels land on the sea?
True seabirds, they spend most of their time out at sea and only return to land to breed. Nesting in burrows or rocky crevices, they are vulnerable to predation from mammals like rats, so are usually only found on small, offshore islands where these animals are absent.
Is Storm Patreal a migratory bird?
The storm petrel is migratory, spending the Northern Hemisphere winter mainly in cool waters off the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, south to latitude 38°S and east to KwaZulu-Natal.
What do storm petrels eat?
crustaceans
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels prey on tiny crustaceans and fish, which they hunt mostly in flight. They course low over the sea surface, then stall to dip down and seize prey in the bill, often dropping their feet and pattering on the sea surface to maintain position.
Do petrels dive?
They dive to catch most of their prey (crustaceans, small fish, and cephalopods), and have a gular pouch in which they can carry food. When diving they use their feet and tail as rudders; experiments have shown that the Common diving petrel can dive up to 64 m, with approximately 30 m being the average depth.
Where do storm petrels breed?
RANGE: Ashy storm petrels inhabit the coastal waters off central California, south to northern Baja California, Mexico. Their breeding range is restricted to six offshore island groups and several groups of offshore rocks.
How long do storm petrels live?
around 30 years
Storm Petrels can live for around 30 years.
Where do storm petrels live to avoid predation?
the Galapagos Islands
Nesting sites are attended at night to avoid predators; the wedge-rumped storm petrels nesting in the Galapagos Islands are the exception to this rule and attend their nesting sites during the day. Storm petrels display high levels of philopatry, returning to their natal colonies to breed.
Where do petrels nest?
Storm petrels nest either in burrows dug into soil or sand, or in small crevices in rocks and scree. Competition for nesting sites is intense in colonies where storm petrels compete with other burrowing petrels, with shearwaters having been recorded killing storm petrels to occupy their burrows.
Do storm petrels migrate?
MIGRATION: Non-migratory seabirds, ashy storm petrels don’t range as far as other species of storm petrel. During fall and winter, birds disperse slightly to offshore waters.
What is a European storm petrel?
The European storm petrel, British storm petrel, or just storm petrel ( Hydrobates pelagicus) is a seabird in the northern storm petrel family, Hydrobatidae. The small, square-tailed bird is entirely black except for a broad, white rump and a white band on the under wings, and it has a fluttering, bat-like flight.
Can the storm petrel survive on land?
The storm petrel cannot survive on islands where land mammals such as rats and cats have been introduced, and it suffers natural predation from gulls, skuas, owls, and falcons.
Where do storm petrels go in winter?
The storm petrel is migratory, spending the Northern Hemisphere winter mainly in cool waters off the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, south to latitude 38°S and east to KwaZulu-Natal. Some birds stay north of the equator in the seas adjoining Mauritania and Rio de Oro, and a few remain near the breeding islands, especially in the Mediterranean.
What affects breeding distribution of storm-petrels in Orkney and Shetland?
“Factors affecting breeding distribution of Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus in Orkney and Shetland: Capsule The main factors are past and present human activities, especially the introduction of rats to islands”. Bird Study. 53 (1): 64–72. doi: 10.1080/00063650609461417.