Seabirds, from cormorants to puffins, spend most of their lives at sea. Beloved by birdwatchers, these animals can be hard to study because they spend so much time far from shore. New research led by the University of Washington uses data collected by coastal residents along beaches from central California to Alaska to understand how […]
Tag: Common Murre
Dead in their nests or washed ashore: why thousands of seabirds are dying en masse
Twenty years ago, David Grémillet, a seabird ecologist, watched in dismay as a heatwave hit a breeding colony of Cape gannets in Lambert’s Bay, South Africa, causing dozens of birds to keel over. An unseasonably hot wind sent temperatures to 40C (104F), too intense even for the heat-adapted birds. While guarding their nests, they baked […]
We Saved the Puffins. Now a Warming Planet Is Unraveling That Work
I stepped onto the battlefield of climate change, sidestepping carcass after carcass. In the grass were the remains of Arctic terns, common terns, and roseate terns. Along the boulders, researchers pointed out dead puffin chicks. As other climate war zones smolder with wildfire embers, are strewn with flattened homes, or marked by bleached coral, the […]
Scientists Just Discovered a Seabird Hotspot. It’s Already at Climate Risk.
As winter approaches, many seabirds that nest along Atlantic coastlines in summer head out to sea to live and hunt in cold, northern waters. Dovekies, one of the most numerous North Atlantic seabirds, dive deep below the waves to feed on tiny crustaceans. Atlantic Puffins forage for fish and mollusks. Black-legged Kittiwakes eat just about […]
Uncovered: the secret sex life of birds
For years, people assumed most birds were monogamous. This idyllic image was blown apart when research revealed lifestyles of polygamy, polyandry, marathon mating sessions and sperm competition. Welcome to the secret reproductive life of birds. Shocked? Blame it on natural selection. In the late 1960s, it was generally assumed that the vast majority of birds […]
Nearly half a million seabirds die in gillnets every year, but solutions exist
A recent study from the Biological Conservation journal brings shocking news: every year across the globe, an estimated 400,000 seabirds are killed by gillnets. Gillnets, a common term for any net used to entangle and catch fish, are used all over the world, and at any depth. These nets, whether used in subsistence or commercial […]
To International Bird Rescue “Every Bird Matters”
These Common Murre Chicks (Uria aalge) were just one of the treats I was able to witness at the International Bird Rescue Center in the San Francisco Bay Area last weekend. Michelle Bellizzi, the Wildlife Center Manager, gave me a thorough and very informative tour of the San Francisco Bay facility. International Bird Rescue is […]
Maine 2011 Trip
In July of 2011 I had the pleasure to travel to Maine with my husband. My main objective was to photograph Atlantic puffins, but Maine has more than just puffins to offer the photographer. We made three stops, Acadia National Park, Cutler and Greenville. Acadia National Park has many coastal views to capture, including of […]