Abstract
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 waters. With the only other recorded instance of on-land foraging by hydrobatids occurring in highly emaciated birds concurrent with a marine heatwave, we suggest that this atypical behaviour is associated with birds experiencing extreme food stress linked to oceanic climate change.
DOI
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.49.2.1431
Creative Commons License
Recommended Citation
D’Entremont, Kyle J.N.; Blackmore, Robert J.; Collins, Sydney M.; Brown, Dave; Jones, Ian L.; Mactavish, Bruce; Wilhelm, Sabina I.; and Montevecchi, William A.
(2021)
"On-land Foraging by Leach's Storm Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa Coincides with Anomalous Weather Conditions,"
Marine Ornithology: Vol. 49
:
Iss.
2
, Article 15.
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.49.2.1431
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/marine_ornithology/vol49/iss2/15