Unusual foraging by a fork-tailed storm-petrel
While conducting an offshore bird census from the sea beach at Nelson Lagoon, Alaska Peninsula (56°00'N, 161°10'W) at 1700 on 17 September 1976 1 saw a Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma f. furcata) feeding on the beached remains of an adult gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) that had been trapped by ice and died the previous April. I watched it for about 15 min. The sky was overcast with a 25-knot offshore wind, gusting to 35 knots. Seas were running from 3 to 4 m, and the tide was high. This observation is of note because it provides direct evidence of a terrestrial (i.e. nonpelagic) foraging capability by O. furcata. It also furthers the scant knowledge on the use of beached marine mammals for food by pelagic and inshore avifauna, especially during adverse weather when normal foraging habits might be inhibited.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1977 |
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Title | Unusual foraging by a fork-tailed storm-petrel |
Authors | Robert E. Gill |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | The Auk |
Index ID | 70185095 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Alaska Science Center |