16.5: Seabirds

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Miracosta Oceanography 101
Miracosta)

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Seabirds

There are many varieties of seabird (too many to discuss here!). Here are characteristics of seabirds:

• Seabirds are found on all continents and islands around the world.

• Seabirds can be highly pelagic, coastal, or partly terrestrial.

• Most species nest in colonies (dozens to millions of birds)

• Seabirds live longer, breed later, and have fewer young.

• Many species undertaking long annual migrations, crossing the equator or even circumnavigating the Earth.

• Seabirds feed both at the ocean's surface,below it, and even on each other.

• All seabirds share feed in saltwater (some may feed in both sea and terrestrial sources).

• Wing morphology and body shape depends the niche a species or family has evolved.
-- Longer wings and low wing loading are typical of more pelagic species,
-- Diving species have shorter wings.
-- Seabirds like albatross and pelicans use dynamic soaring to take advantage of wind deflected by waves to provides lift.

• Seabirds also almost always have webbed feet.

• Salt glands in their nasal cavities are used to excrete the salt they ingest by drinking and feeding.

• Birds appear in the Mesozoic Era, but modern seabirds proliferated in the Paleogene (after the K/T extinction).