31.10.2018 – Turbulence

During our briefings for tours on board our zodiac, the Stenella, we always let our guests know that things can get pretty bumpy at the front of the boat, especially on a day like today where conditions were rather choppy. Generally, the daredevils braving the bow of our boat looking for a thrill are our younger guests, particularly children.

Not just human children were up for a thrill out on the wild Atlantic today,  there were also several groups of juvenile Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) out on the ocean. Corys belong to the highly pelagic family of the tubenoses (Procellariiformes) and are long-lived birds that annually return to the island to breed along its dramatic cliffs. Nesting regions like Madeira are of utmost importance to these highly phillopatric and monogamous birds since they annually return for the breeding season to mate with the same breeding partner. The animals have one offspring per year and spend the entire summer parenting the young chick, ultimately preparing it for the most formidable challenge in its lifetime: leaving the nest in November. Difficult weather conditions and light pollution often lead to disorientation amongst the young Corys. This week alone, our collegue Jan released two slightly injured birds out to the ocean.

Once the birds make it out to sea they do not return to land for a very long time. The birds also become a little more gutsy and begin socializing with one another. The groups of juveniles today were very vocal and many of the spunkier individuals approached the Stenella in flight, only to clumsily flap away when they got too close for comfort. The birds are still in the process of mastering the art of dynamic soaring, where the animals catch wind to travel and swiftly glide over the oceans surface. The gusts of wind brazing the oceans surface today were perfect for the young birds to practice this useful skill!

The Corys were the crews comfort on a rather turbulent ocean which was unfortunately void of cetaceans in our search area. Our ride back to the marina was particularly adventurous and our guests enjoyed every minute of the wild ride upwind. Thanks for being such good sports, we loved having you on board!

P.S Should you come across a disorientated Cory during your stay in Madeira, please contact SPEA +351 967 232 195, who will take it to a sheltered place for release.

To find out more about SPEA, visit their website: http://www.spea.pt/en/

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

10:00 No sighting