Terns

Some tern fledglings have been seen flying off into the proverbial sunset, onto their next adventure. It may be a well-timed transition, as sea surface temperatures along Jenny Island reached a whopping 69 degrees. Researcher staff tested two buckets of water with two thermometers to confirm the high temperature. Warmer waters meant that mackerel and euphausiids (krill) were heavily featured in this week’s tern diets. While not the herring, hake, and haddock researchers prefer to see, these food options have still allowed many tern chicks to grow strong enough to spread their wings. Researchers on Outer Green Island spotted a tern with an Argentinian band. It’s amazing how far these birds can fly!

Alcids

Diet studies on Seal Island indicate that haddock was the main entree for pufflings this week. Puffin grubbing is underway on all of our puffin islands. Teams have been impressed by how many feathers some chicks have grown. As these birds get bigger, they get adorned with their special, pre-departure jewelry – leg bands! All Razorbill chicks have fledged from Matinicus Rock’s productivity study burrows. By the time you’re reading this, it is very possible the lone remaining Razorbill chick in Seal Island’s productivity study will also have fledged!

Explore.org

The Guillemot Burrow suffered a tragedy this week. The egg was seen pipping on the evening of Wednesday, July 10 and by the next morning, viewers were pleasantly surprised with a freshly hatched Black Guillemot chick in the burrow! However, this excitement was short-lived as a puffin scared the new parents off their egg. The puffin began pecking at the chick, even picking it up and shaking it around. The guillemot chick tragically passed; it was named “Wednesday” posthumously by viewers. 

In better news: oh my, how quickly Ama has grown! This puffin chick has proved itself to be very spunky and full of spirit; from adventuring outside the burrow, to demanding fish by pecking and pulling Willie and Millie’s tail feathers, and to scaring off intruders all on its own, baby Ama can do it all. The Seal Island team banded the chick with the reddish color band “124” at approximately 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 14!

Follow Ama’s journey on explore.org to watch as this adorably feisty chick grows closer to fledging.

All birds handled and banded with proper training and permitting.

For additional news, please visit the Seabird Island News index page.