Seabirds are among the world’s most remarkable birds. Possessing an amazing array of specialized adaptations for extended marine existence, as well as manifesting a remarkable variety of breeding and migratory strategies, seabirds have long been a favorite with both birders and research ornithologists. Some seabirds, such as the great albatrosses, may live for more than half a century and are capable of spending as much as eight or more years at sea without ever touching land. Other species like the tiny Wilson’s Storm-Petrel virtually travel from one end of the world to the other twice a year. With a keen olfactory ability, unique adaptations for removing salt from seawater, and a seemingly innate sense for navigating over trackless oceans, seabirds are truly extraordinary mariners.
In this presentation, Wayne Petersen will discuss seabird classification, feeding, breeding, and migratory strategies, and seabird adaptations. His comments will also focus on the significance of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to seabirds off the Massachusetts coast and some of the important conservation issues facing seabird populations locally and beyond.
Wayne Petersen is Mass Audubon’s Director of the Massachusetts Important Bird Areas (IBA) program. Wayne has led tours, lectured, and conducted birding workshops across North America for more than 40 years. His tour-leading experiences have taken him from the Arctic to Antarctica, including destinations in the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and also Iceland, Svalbard, 5 African countries, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Australia, and New Zealand.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
