Balearic shearwater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balearic shearwater |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Puffinus
|
| Species: |
mauretanicus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Puffinus puffinus mauretanicus |
|
The Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is a medium-sized seabird. It belongs to the shearwater family, Procellariidae. The name Puffinus comes from an old English word "puffin." This word was used for the cured meat of young Manx shearwaters, which used to be a special food. The name mauretanicus refers to Mauretania, an old name for parts of North Africa like Morocco and Algeria.
Contents
About the Balearic Shearwater
How Scientists Named It
The Balearic shearwater was first described in 1921 by an English bird expert named Percy Lowe. At first, he thought it was a type of subspecies of the Manx shearwater. A subspecies is a group of animals within a species that looks a bit different or lives in a different place.
For a long time, scientists thought the Balearic shearwater was just a subspecies. Later, they realized it was its own unique species. It is closely related to the yelkouan shearwater, another bird found in the Mediterranean Sea. Scientists use things like how birds look and their DNA to figure out how they are related.
Some studies show that the Balearic shearwater and the yelkouan shearwater are very similar. They might even be considered the same species by some experts.
Ancient Relatives
The Balearic shearwater is part of a group of birds found around the Mediterranean Sea and nearby Atlantic Ocean. This group includes the yelkouan shearwater. Scientists have also found bones of similar birds that lived long ago and are now extinct.
One of these ancient birds, called Hole's shearwater, might be the closest relative to the Balearic shearwater. Fossils found on the island of Ibiza suggest that the Balearic shearwater's ancestors lived there millions of years ago.
What Does It Look Like?
The Balearic shearwater is about 34 to 39 centimeters (13 to 15 inches) long. Its wings can spread out from 78 to 90 centimeters (31 to 35 inches). It flies in a special way, dipping from side to side over the water. Its wings are stiff, and it flaps them only a few times. The wingtips often almost touch the water.
When it flies, it looks like a cross. Its wings are held straight out from its body. As it turns, you can see its dark brown back and lighter belly. This makes it seem to change from dark to light as it glides low over the sea.
This bird looks a lot like the Manx and yelkouan shearwaters. However, the Balearic shearwater's feathers are not as strongly contrasting. It's hard to tell them apart just by looking. Scientists often use a mix of how they look and their DNA to identify them.
Where Do They Live?
This bird makes its nests on islands and cliffs along the coast of the Balearic islands. These islands are in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Spain.
Most Balearic shearwaters stay in the Mediterranean Sea during winter. But some of them fly into the Atlantic Ocean in late summer. They can travel as far north as Great Britain and Ireland.
How Do They Behave?
The Balearic shearwater likes to be with other birds. You can often see many of them together, especially in the autumn. They are quiet when they are out at sea.
However, at night, their nesting places become very noisy. They make loud, cackling calls. These calls are higher-pitched than those of the Manx shearwater.
Nesting Habits
These birds build their nests in burrows (holes in the ground) and caves. They only visit their nests at night. This helps them avoid being caught by large gulls, which might try to eat them.
What Do They Eat?
The Balearic shearwater mainly eats fish and molluscs (like squid or snails). Unlike some other seabirds, it does not follow boats to find food.
Why Are They Endangered?
The Balearic shearwater is in serious trouble. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as critically endangered. This means it faces a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Scientists estimate that the number of these birds is dropping very quickly. Their population might decrease by more than 80% in the next 54 years. This means they could become extinct in just a few decades if nothing changes.
Main Threats
- Habitat Loss: Building holiday resorts near their nesting sites is a big problem. These developments can destroy or change the natural places where the birds live and raise their young.
- Light Pollution: Lights from buildings and towns near their colonies can confuse the birds. This is especially harmful at night when they visit their nests.
- Introduced Animals: Animals like cats and rats, which were brought to the islands by humans, hunt the shearwaters and their chicks.
- Hybridization: Sometimes, Balearic shearwaters breed with yelkouan shearwaters. This mixing of species can also be a problem for the Balearic shearwater's survival.
The Balearic shearwater is one of the birds protected by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. This agreement helps countries work together to protect these amazing seabirds.
See also
In Spanish: Pardela balear para niños
