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Transcription
Gould, P. J.
1963
(Wedge-tailed Shearwater)
5
collected, all had stomachs filled with flying fish (none had wings on them). The
wedge-tails would fly low and fast over the fish and either hit a fish in mid air or
(more commonly) they would splash into the water and chase the fish by hopping and
jumping along with fore and bill thrusts until the fish was captured. Once a fish
was caught the bird would immediately rise and swallow the fish in mid air. No
precision diving from high in the air was noted.
Groups of Shearwaters would occasionally be noticed forming on the water. These
birds did not feed but went through preening movements and some wing stretching. There
were always birds in the air. In general these sitting birds would be joined by
other birds periodically, and a few would leave the sitting group from time to time.
No single birds were ever noted sitting on the water.
Much more flapping was required while the birds were actively catching fish
than when hunting.
September 8--Pacific Ocean, 4 days out Oahu, Hawaiian Is.
Following is a series of observations made by Roger Clapp while on watch:
0544 10 Wedge-tails group of individual birds flying in from the NNW and then
returning in the same direction. Flying up from waves in soaring circles.
("Possibly these are members of a just dispersing flock."
0553 1 Wedge-tail headed S
0555 1 Wedge-tail headed NNW
0601 7+ Wedge-tails headed NNW
0604 10 + Wedge-tails headed NNW, then SSE
0615 2 Wedge-tails headed NnW. "Bird shit from 15'."
Also performed comfort movements while on the wing; bringing one foot up and
ruffling and smoothing on flank feathers--also (apparently) yawned.
0616 3 Wedge-tails headed WSW
0632 2 Wedge-tails headed NNW