Pelagic Birds

• Following the passage of Cyclone Biparjoy near Jakhau in Kutch, birdwatchers and enthusiasts have reported sightings of Pelagic birds, including species like shearwaters, petrels, storm petrels and terns in places not typically associated with their presence.

ABOUT PELAGIC BIRDS

• These are seabirds that live on open seas and oceans rather than inland or around more restricted waters such as lakes and rivers.
• They can be found thousands of miles offshore but can get blown onto land during high winds and storms.
• The only other time they come inland is to breed.
• Examples- albatrosses, frigatebirds, fulmars, petrels, shearwaters, and tropicbirds.
• Most of them eat fish, crustaceans, mollusks, or aquatic vegetation.
• Generally, they have dense, waterproof feathers and layers of fat to keep them warm.
• A unique feature about seabirds is that they have desalination filters in their bills that can eliminate salt from the water they drink.
• They have exceptionally long and thin wings that allow them to fly effortlessly for long periods without rest.
• Some have webbed or partially webbed feet for swimming, plucking fish from the shallows, or executing precise, plunging dives.
• In general, seabirds live longer than other wild birds; most have an average lifespan of 50 years.
• Almost all seabirds live in colonies, migrate annually, and mate for life.