Seabirds, at night (1 Viewer)

[Karl J]

What do they do ?

Auks, Gannets, Shearwaters etc ... Do they sleep on the wing, roost ashore, on the water (in which case how do they keep a flock together if they are all asleep ?)

Or do they do something else entirely ???? ... they must sleep somehow, mustn't they ?

Anyone know ?

 

[Rasmus Boegh]

As far as I know Gannets, Shearwaters and Albatrosses will sleep both on the water and on land (either on the ground or in burrows, depending on the species). Auks usually sleep on land and I have not heard of them sleeping ashore, but it probably could occur. Birds that sleep on water are generally known to sleep very lightly, with one eye open so to speak. Thus, if danger should come near or they should get too far away from the flock they can react. Also, a flock sitting on water in relatively close proximity will, at least if logic has any ruling, float in the same direction with a similar speed. The only birds that sleep on the wing (to my knowledge at least) are certain terns and swifts.

 

[Karl J]

Thanks Rasmus, i've often wondered about this

I didn't know any terns slept on the wing, thats interesting

cheers

 

[christineredgate]

an interesting question Karl,I often wonder where the birds sleep,if they do sleep,especially the sea birds in stormy conditions.Even when I see the odd lone Gull flying over late at night I wonder where he is going,and if he is going to have a safe place to rest.

 

[Rasmus Boegh]

I didn't know any terns slept on the wing, thats interesting

It has been reported in the Grey-backed (Sterna lunata) and the Sooty Tern (S. fuscata). Both are highly pelagic and only infrequently seen near land except at their breeding colonies. There are a few other terns that are (almost) as pelagic and I wouldn't be surprised if they sometimes took a nap on the wing, too.

 

[Stewart J.]

Hi all, many seabirds do actually sleep on the sea, have seen it with many species of gulls, auks, fulmars, shearwaters, seaducks and gannets. Many also feed at night.

Not unusual for a ship steaming along at night to disturb resting flocks, often witnessed this in moonlight.

Stewart (Merchant Navy)

 

[Bubbs]

What do they do ?

Auks, Gannets, Shearwaters etc ... Do they sleep on the wing, roost ashore, on the water (in which case how do they keep a flock together if they are all asleep ?)

Or do they do something else entirely ???? ... they must sleep somehow, mustn't they ?

Anyone know ?

Huge flocks of Lesser-black backed Gulls (Fuscus) fly north over Eilat at dusk in spring and will fly all night. The massive flocks of White-winged Black Terns that head up the gulf will also spend all night on the wing..as will Skuas, et al.

These birds will mostly sleep and feed up during daylight hours.

Swifts will also roost in trees; BWP and pers ob.

John.