When out at sea, whether sailing or on a cruise, one of the most exciting parts of the journey is spotting marine wildlife. Birds that spend most or all of their lives out at sea are called seabirds. There are many different species of seabirds that can be seen across the world’s oceans. Some of the most commonly sighted seabirds include gulls, terns, petrels, albatrosses, and pelicans. In this article, we will discuss what seabirds you are most likely to spot on a trip out to sea and how to identify them.
Reasons seabirds are often seen at sea
There are several key reasons why seabirds tend to congregate and can be frequently spotted out at sea:
– Food source – The ocean provides an abundant food source for seabirds in the form of fish, squid, crustaceans, and more. Seabirds have evolved to skillfully catch food while swimming and diving.
– Migration – Many seabirds migrate vast distances across oceans and use marine flyways. Seabirds may be spotted resting on the water or flying over the sea during migrations.
– Nesting – Some seabirds nest on cliffs or islands out at sea, requiring them to commute from nesting colonies to feeding grounds.
– Resting – Seabirds will often rest on the surface of the water, especially if there are no land masses nearby. The open ocean provides relatively safe resting areas.
– Avoiding predators – The open ocean has fewer land-based predators, creating a safer environment for seabirds.
Common seabirds in tropical oceans
If you are sailing in tropical regions such as the Caribbean Sea, South Pacific, or Indian Ocean, here are some of the seabirds you are most likely to encounter:
Frigatebirds
Frigatebirds are large seabirds with long, pointed wings and forked tails. They have an imposing wingspan that can reach over 2 meters. Frigatebirds are found across tropical oceans and are renowned for their effortless soaring flight. They often harass other birds to steal their catches of fish.
Boobies
Boobies are a genus of seabirds characterized by their large webbed feet and pointed, aerodynamic bills. Blue-footed, red-footed and masked boobies can be found across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. They perform dramatic plunge-dives from heights of up to 30 meters to catch prey.
Tropicbirds
Known for their elongated tail feathers and brilliant plumage, tropicbirds nest on islands and cliffs but spend most of their lives flying out at sea. White-tailed tropicbirds are found widely across the world’s tropical oceans.
Common seabirds in temperate oceans
In cooler, temperate oceans like the North Atlantic and North Pacific, some seabirds you may identify include:
Albatrosses
Albatrosses are among the largest seabirds, with wingspans over 3 meters. They use dynamic soaring to glide efficiently across huge ocean distances. Different albatross species inhabit the North Pacific, South Pacific, and Southern Oceans.
Shearwaters
Shearwaters are medium-sized seabirds named for their scissor-like wings. They flap their stiff wings in a shear-like motion to propel through the air. Many shearwater migrations cover figure-eight loops of 40,000 miles or more.
Petrels
Petrels comprise a diverse family of tube-nosed seabirds. Species like the northern fulmar and cape petrel frequent higher latitudes. Petrels have a strong sense of smell to help locate food and navigate at sea.
Seabirds of northern oceans
Up in northern Atlantic and Pacific waters, including off Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway, some seabirds you may spot include:
Murres
Murres are chunky black-and-white seabirds well adapted to diving in pursuit of fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Large breeding colonies of thick-billed and common murres gather on remote cliffs.
Puffins
Puffins are rotund, colorful seabirds of the auk family. Their stubby wings whir rapidly to propel their chubby bodies through the air and underwater. Puffins nest in burrows on grassy clifftops and offshore islands.
Auklets
Auklets are small diving seabirds named for their upright posture. They have short necks and legs with feathered feet for swimming. Whiskered, crested, and rhinoceros auklets breed in the northern Pacific and Atlantic.
Pelagic seabirds across oceans
The following seabirds can be found traversing many of the world’s oceans from the tropics to higher latitudes:
Gulls
Gulls are highly adaptable seabirds found across a wide range of marine habitats. Omnivorous gulls are skilled at stealing food from other birds and thrive around human activity. Numerous gull species exist around the world.
Terns
Terns are graceful seabirds that plunge-dive for small fish and fly with buoyant, fluttering wingbeats. They have slender bodies, long tapered wings, and forked tails. Many terns migrate incredibly long distances each year.
Skuas
Skuas are predatory seabirds that ruthlessly harass other birds for their catches. Like gulls, they are highly opportunistic and adaptable to various marine ecosystems from the tropics to Antarctica.
Spotting techniques and tips
Here are some tips for giving yourself the best chance to spot and identify seabirds while out on the water:
– Scan the horizon carefully with binoculars to look for seabirds resting on the water surface or flying.
– Check the waters around the boat regularly for birds that may be following the vessel.
– Look for circling flocks that could indicate feeding activity and fish below.
– Learn to recognize different flight patterns – soaring, dipping, fluttering wingbeats.
– Get to know field guide illustrations or photos of species you may encounter.
– Apps like eBird can help you identify species and log sightings.
– Avoid making loud noises or quick movements that startle and flush seabirds.
Threats facing seabirds
Many of the world’s seabird species face substantial threats both on land and at sea:
– Overfishing depletes food sources and causes starvation. Longline fisheries also inadvertently catch seabirds.
– Plastic pollution entangles seabirds and is ingested, often fatally.
– Oil spills poison and destroy seabird feathers.
– Predators like rats, cats, and foxes decimate breeding colonies.
– Climate change disrupts food chains and habitats. Nesting areas may be lost to sea level rise.
– Disturbance, pollution, and construction impact seabird nesting sites.
Conservation efforts aimed at reducing threats and protecting key breeding areas are vital to preserving seabird populations worldwide. Responsible boating, fishing, and tourism practices can help safeguard seabirds for future generations to enjoy out on the ocean waves.
Conclusion
Seabirds are amazing ocean voyagers that come in a myriad of shapes and sizes specially adapted for life at sea. Paying attention to flight patterns, plumage, bill shape, and other identification features can help you recognize the wide diversity of seabirds that may be spotted while boating, island hopping, or taking a high seas cruise. Learning how to spot and identify seabirds is a fun challenge that adds an extra layer of interest to any ocean trip. Appreciating seabirds helps highlight the need to conserve the marine environments these remarkable fliers depend on.