Petrels and Shearwaters
Petrels and Shearwaters
Procellariidae
The Ocean’s Long-Distance Navigators: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae) are seabirds built for life on the open ocean, spending most of their time soaring over vast waters. Using their long, narrow wings, they glide effortlessly above waves, covering thousands of kilometers with minimal effort. Shearwaters, such as the Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea), are famous for their incredible migrations, some traveling from New Zealand to the North Pacific and back each year. Petrels, including the tiny Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), dance across the water’s surface, picking off plankton and small fish. These birds have an extraordinary sense of smell, allowing them to locate food over great distances. Their tube-like nostrils help filter excess salt from seawater, an essential adaptation for ocean life. They return to remote islands to breed, often nesting in burrows or rocky crevices. Many petrel and shearwater species are threatened by plastic pollution, climate change, and invasive predators on nesting islands. Conservation efforts aim to protect their breeding grounds and reduce oceanic threats, ensuring these ocean wanderers continue their epic journeys.