Guadalupe murrelet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guadalupe murrelet |
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The Guadalupe murrelet (pronounced mur-uh-let) is a small seabird that lives in the Pacific Ocean. You can find it in the California Current area. This bird is a type of auk, which is a family of diving seabirds. It makes its nests on islands near California and Mexico.
For a long time, the Guadalupe murrelet and the Scripps's murrelet were thought to be the same species. They were both called Xantus's murrelet until 2012. But scientists found enough differences to say they are actually two separate species. They looked at things like their faces, beaks, calls, and even their DNA. They also noticed that the two types of birds didn't breed together, even when they nested on the same islands.
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What is a Guadalupe Murrelet?
The Guadalupe murrelet is a small bird with black and white feathers. It has a tiny head and a thin, sharp beak. It looks a lot like its relatives, the Scripps's murrelet and the Craveri's murrelet. These three birds are special because they live the furthest south of all the auk species.
Where do Guadalupe Murrelets live?
These birds breed on islands from Guadalupe Island down to the San Benito Islands. After they finish breeding, they fly north. You might see them off the coast of southern California in the United States.
How do Guadalupe Murrelets behave?
Guadalupe murrelets like to eat far out at sea. They often hunt near large fish like tuna. These big fish help them find smaller fish to eat. The murrelets mostly eat baby fish, like anchovies, sardines, and young Sebastes rockfish.
How do they hunt?
Like all auks, the Guadalupe murrelet is an amazing underwater hunter. It uses its wings to "fly" through the water. It flaps its wings powerfully to chase down its prey. Scientists think these birds might even hunt together in pairs. This is because they are almost always seen in pairs, even when it's not breeding season. They are also good flyers in the air and can take off quickly without needing a long run-up.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Guadalupe murrelets build their nests in small cracks in rocks, inside caves, or under thick bushes. They choose dry islands for their homes. They don't like to be seen, so they only come back to their nests at night.
A female murrelet usually lays two eggs. The parents take turns keeping the eggs warm for about a month. What's really cool is that the baby chicks are very independent! They leave the nest within two days of hatching. They run quickly towards the sea, where their parents call to them. Once they reach the ocean, the whole family swims out to deeper waters.
Scientists don't know much about what these birds do once they are out at sea. It's very hard to study them in the open ocean.
Status and Conservation
At the end of the 1900s, scientists worried that the Guadalupe murrelet and its relatives were among the most endangered auks. While other auks have become rarer, the Guadalupe murrelet's situation hasn't gotten much better.
What threatens them?
The biggest danger to the Guadalupe murrelet is oil spills. Many of these birds live near busy shipping lanes. These are like highways for ships carrying oil. If there's a big oil spill, it could harm a large part of their small population. This would be very bad for the species.
Another threat comes from introduced species like rats and feral cats. These animals were brought to the islands where the murrelets nest. They can hunt the birds and their eggs. Luckily, people are working to help! They are trying to restore the islands by removing these harmful animals. This helps make the islands safer for the murrelets.
