Storm Petrels
Many Petrels arrive on the local coastal islands where they mate and build nests. Bird watchers seldom see the birds because of their night time habits. The Petrels stay in their nests or fly out over the ocean in search of food. Sometimes the birds rest near the mouth of a river in the mornings of late autumn.
Charles R.K. Allen writes: "Water dotted with them as far as the eye could see must have been several hundred at least. Many groups and singles flying low across the Causeway. Late sightings are usually of birds driven inshore or inland by winter storms."
Fork Tailed Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma furcata) - Identification Tips: Of all the storm petrels The Fork Tailed Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma furcata) is a medium to large storm petrel that stands about eight to nine inches tall with a wing span of 18 inches. One of these migratory birds is the lovely Fork Tailed Storm Petrel that nests and breeds on small islands from Japan and Alaska south to Northern California, and then scatters over deep sea waters in the non breeding period.
The Fork Tailed Petrel shows dark colors with a small white patch at the end of their tail. Also their legs and feet are black. This bird has a dark colored bill with tube on top and its feathers are gray. This special part of a Storm Petrel's beak lets them drink salt water and then get rid of the salt. Sometimes birders noticed the birds sneezing out the salt out of these tubes. By its ear the petrel has a patch and when in flight birders see the partly dark color of the wings and a forked tail. Both the male and female have similar plumage.
The Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), mates on islands of the Antarctic. After breeding the birds scatter into the Atlantic Ocean by the millions. Some bird watchers and scientist suggest that Storm Petrels are the world's most abundant bird.
Most of the Storm Petrels of the North Atlantic breed off Eastern Newfoundland. Here in North America the bird inhabits the area from Massachusetts to Southeastern Labrador. Also you will find small flocks of birds in Iceland, Scotland and Norway. Most of the birds fly to the tropics and stay at sea for the northern winter months.
The forked tail and black is how bird watchers separate Leach's Storm Petrel from Wilson's Storm-Petrel. Also
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