Why do sooty shearwaters migrate

We suggest that most shearwaters using this route are nonbreeders, possibly from both the New Zealand and Chilean populations. Many birds, probably breeders from both populations, likely use shorter routes to and from the North Pacific ca. Annual variation in the number of transequatorial migrants was positively correlated with a progressive, annual increase in sea-surface temperature, due to large-scale ocean warming in the eastern Pacific.

A progressive increase in number of shearwaters migrating to the North Pacific mostly reflected increased migration from the Peru Current, consistent with a concurrent sharp decline of these birds in the California Current. These results indicate a distributional shift in feeding location during the nonbreeding period, from the eastern boundary currents to the central North Pacific, which has been exhibiting a cooling trend. Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.

It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Sign In or Create an Account. Sign In. Advanced Search. Search Menu. Article Navigation. Close mobile search navigation Article Navigation. Volume They can be viewed from shore in vast flocks resembling clouds of smoke.

In September the birds continue their southward migration. Widely distributed with a worldwide population estimated in the tens of millions, the sooty shearwater has declined recently in some regions. One study linked rising sea surface temperatures to a dramatic drop in summer sightings of sooty shearwaters along the Pacific coast of North America between and Shearwaters appear to be sensitive indicators of changes in ocean ecosystems, such as shifts in fish location and population due to warming water temperature.

Longline fisheries that deploy thousands of baited hooks along a single suspended line lure shearwaters to chase the bait. Birds often drown after being snagged by the hook. Weighting the longline to drift deeper than the birds can dive could reduce the unintended impact on shearwaters. The Rakiura Maori people conduct a culturally significant harvest of sooty shearwaters, known by their Maori name, titi, or muttonbirds.

Every April and May, Maori travel to three dozen islands at the southern end of New Zealand to extract chicks from their burrows or catch fledglings as they emerge. Preserved with salt, the birds provide a lasting supply of meat. The Rakiura Maori have teamed with university scientists to study the sustainability of their traditional practice. The Aquarium — and Monterey Bay — are home to a bounty of birds!

Explore below to learn more about these feathered friends. This majestic bird has a distinctive large pouch that hangs from the lower half of its long, straight bill. Download a beautiful, high-resolution African penguin wallpaper for your desktop or mobile device.

We honor the passing of the female willet who lived in our Aviary for 32 years and was beloved by many. Curlews use their long bills to probe deeply under soil and mud for insects, worms and burrowing spiders. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

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Tickets now on sale through December See visit information. Reserve member tickets. Animals Animals Animals A to Z. African penguin. See all animals. See sardines swirl and leopard sharks glide through kelp canopies on our Kelp Forest Cam.

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Research Species:. Minimum Size:. Maximum Size:. Average size:. Average weight:. Not present. What colour is the bird? What size is the bird? Medium 30 cm to 45 cm e. Medium to large 45 cm to 60 cm e. Scientific Name:. Ardenna grisea.

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