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#seabirds

2 posts2 participants0 posts today
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Sarah Dal

Gull paper of the day: The First GPS Observation of a Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Riding in a Long-Haul Garbage Transfer Truck

doi.org/10.1675/063.048.0101

Preview cover image for the publication Waterbirds
BioOne CompleteThe First GPS Observation of a Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Riding in a Long-Haul Garbage Transfer TruckGulls have a flexible diet allowing them to forage both at-sea and on land with prior research showing Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) forage more on land when oceanic prey resources are low. Western Gulls have been GPS-tracked during the breeding season at Southeast Farallon Island off the U.S. West Coast from 2013 to the present. Foraging trips to land tend to be longer than at-sea trips, and while on land, gulls can visit a variety of locations in search of anthropogenic food sources. Here, we provide the first observation of a female Western Gull riding in a long-haul garbage transfer truck (18-wheeler) from a waste transfer station in San Francisco to an outdoor compost facility in the Central Valley, California. This behavior occurred twice, on 21 and 23 May 2018, and the gull flew back to its colony on the Farallon Islands after getting out of the truck each time. These two foraging trips were an average ∼14 to 18 hrs longer, ∼95 to 130 km farther from the colony, and the total distance traveled was ∼95 to 160 km more than this individual's other at-sea and land-based trips during the week-long tracking period. While this behavior has not been widely observed and the bird's intentions are difficult to establish, foraging at this transfer station appears to provide a predictable food source, and therefore, this behavior could become more common as birds respond to changing environments.
#seabirds#ornithology
Public
Sarah Dal

HPAI caused the death of 50% of Kittiwakes in Norway's largest breeding colony in 2023

biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/20

bioRxiv · Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Caused Mass Death among Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) in Norway, 2023In 2023, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) heavily affected gulls in Europe. In July, a mass mortality event was reported in the Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) breeding colony at Ekkerøy in Northern Norway. The cause was confirmed to be infection with the HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus, genotype EA-2022-BB. We describe the outbreak in Kittiwakes, including pathological and virological investigations, and discuss the management and zoonotic potential. With more than 15,000 dead birds reported, we estimate that the outbreak caused a reduction in the Kittiwake population at Ekkerøy of at least 50%. Diseased birds exhibited neurological signs. Necropsy of ten birds revealed a peracute fatal systemic disease, with severe lesions in the brain and pancreas co-localizing with the presence of viral RNA and antigen. Vascular expression of α2,3-linked sialic acids and viral RNA/antigen may reflect hematogenous virus spread. Further studies should investigate the long-term impact of HPAI on Kittiwake populations. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Norwegian Veterinary Institute, https://ror.org/05m6y3182
#seabirds#hpai
Public
Mojo ♻️

Seabirds are losing the war on plastic. New research shows birds are mistaking plastic for food at alarming rates, leading to starvation and population collapse. Australia’s waste crisis is hitting nature hard.
#plasticpollution #seabirds #environment #australia #wildlifecrisis #wastewar #natureunderthreat
abc.net.au/news/2025-05-15/bir

ABC News · The birds on Lord Howe Island are now so full of plastic, they crunchBy Jake Evans
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MindTGap

Behind the Twinnies' viral interview | Australian Story
ABC News In-depth
ABC is an Australian public broadcast service.
May 13, 2025 #AustralianStory #IdenticalTwins #Twinnies #AU #Kimmel #Australia #Twins #Birds #SeaBirds
Australian Story was updating its episode on identical twins Paula and Bridgette Powers when they became a global sensation due to an interview they gave about a carjacker.
Because they speak in unison, parodies of them flooded the internet but the Twinnies are unfazed by the attention.
Their life purpose is to rehabilitate seabirds at their sanctuary on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. But all that was under threat until a mystery benefactor came along.
youtube.com/watch?v=1eCx_M2zGV

YouTubeBehind the Twinnies' viral interview | Australian StoryBy ABC News In-depth
Public
Sarah Dal

the East Atlantic Flyway Assessment 2023 has been issued, 13 reports on the status of migratory waterbird populations along the East Atlantic Flyway. It includes data from a long-term study of a German Common Tern colony that saw huge declines due to #HPAI in 2022 and 2023

zenodo.org/records/15355686

ZenodoEast Atlantic Flyway Assessment 2023. The status of coastal waterbird populations and their sitesThe assessment report raises concerns about the status of migratory waterbird populations along the East Atlantic Flyway. 42% of monitored populations show long-term increases, 33% are declining. While pressures on wetland habitats are widespread along the flyway, the specific drivers of population declines are often unknown. The report calls for more international collaboration and political commitment to protect migratory birds and prevent further population declines along the flyway.
#seabirds#shorebirds#flyway
Public
Sarah Dal

In a study conducted in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, researchers from SEAPOP have used a nearly 40 year-long data series to assess how changes in sea ice affect the breeding distribution of common eiders (Somateria mollissima).

nina.no/english/About-NINA/New

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research · Sea ice affects population dynamics in common eidersBy Camilla Næss
#Seaducks#Seabirds#Eider
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