First GPS tracking of the Black Storm Petrel Hydrobates melania.

Authors

• Jorge Cristerna, Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
• Gemma Abaunza, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE) - Unidad Académica La Paz, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
• Joel Aarón López-Hernández, Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
• Cecilia Soldatini, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE) - Unidad Académica La Paz, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
• Yuri Vladimir Albores-Barajas, Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
• Federico De Pascalis, Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
• Jacopo G. Cecere, Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy

Abstract

The research reported here, conducted at Archipiélago de Espíritu Santo National Park, Baja California Sur, Mexico, establishes the first successful application of biologging on a Black Storm Petrel Hydrobates melania. Results yielded preliminary insights into this population's marine movements during nesting. The device used, weighing less than 3% of the bird's body mass, recorded a 181-km foraging trip. Subsequent trajectory analysis indicated navigation behavior that potentially was optimized to use crosswind assistance. The individual showed no weight loss post-retrieval, a finding that suggests this method is viable and unharmful, demonstrating the feasibility of using miniaturized tracking devices to unravel the ecology of this elusive seabird.

DOI

http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.54.1.1681

Recommended Citation

Cristerna, Jorge; Abaunza, Gemma; López-Hernández, Joel Aarón; Soldatini, Cecilia; Albores-Barajas, Yuri Vladimir; De Pascalis, Federico; and Cecere, Jacopo G. (2026) "First GPS tracking of the Black Storm Petrel Hydrobates melania.," Marine Ornithology: Vol. 54 : Iss. 1 , Article 18.
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.54.1.1681
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/marine_ornithology/vol54/iss1/18