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Diving behaviour of the grey-headed albatross

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2004

N. Huin  and
P.A. Prince
N. Huin
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
P.A. Prince
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
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Abstract

Foraging grey-headed albatrosses spent 86% of the night but only 20% of the day sitting on the sea; most diving activity occurred during daylight. During the broad-guard period of nesting, peaks of diving activity occurred at midday and dusk. During the subsequent chick-rearing period, however, diving was mainly at dawn and dusk. Of 485 dives measured, the depth averaged 0.74 m, with maximum depth at 6.5 m. On average grey-headed albatrosses dived 24 times during a five day foraging trip. Dive depths increased towards midday, probably as a function of the birds' visual acuity rather than due to vertical migration of their prey. We estimate that grey-headed albatrosses may obtain 30–45% of their daily food requirements by diving.

Keywords

Diomedea chrysostomadivingforaging behaviourScotia SeaSouth Georgia
Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , September 1997 , pp. 243 - 249
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1997

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