flesh footed shearwater

The flesh-footed shearwater (Ardenna carneipes), formerly known as Puffinus carneipes, is a medium-sized seabird with a significant presence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Known for its dark plumage and distinctive pale features, this species is a remarkable example of marine adaptation and long-distance migration.

This bird typically measures between 41-45 cm in length. Its plumage is almost entirely black or dark chocolate brown. The most striking features of the flesh-footed shearwater are its pale pinkish feet and a pale bill that features a distinct black tip. It is closely related to the pink-footed shearwater, together forming the Hemipuffinus superspecies group.

The flesh-footed shearwater is primarily a pelagic species, meaning it spends the majority of its life in open offshore waters. During the breeding season, it moves to coastal islands to nest in burrows. Its range extends across the North Pacific during the boreal summer, while breeding occurs on islands around Australia, New Zealand, and the Indian Ocean.

The primary diet of the flesh-footed shearwater consists of squid and crustaceans. They are opportunistic feeders that often congregate in areas where prey is abundant, sometimes following fishing vessels to scavenge for discards.

This species breeds in large colonies. Major breeding grounds include Lord Howe Island, northern New Zealand, and various islands along the coast of Western Australia. They are known for their philopatry, often returning to the same colony where they were born to raise their own young in underground burrows.

These birds are exceptional divers. They catch food chiefly by plunge-diving and pursuing prey deep underwater. They are also frequently seen running along the water's surface between shallow belly-flop dives. They are highly social at sea and can often be found in large feeding rafts.

The flesh-footed shearwater is currently facing population declines and is listed as Near Threatened in Australia and Nationally Vulnerable in New Zealand. Major threats include being caught as bycatch in fisheries, climate change impacts, and the ingestion of plastic pollution, which leads to heavy metal contamination.

1. They are part of the genus Ardenna, which contains several large-bodied shearwater species.
2. Recent genetic analysis shows that Pacific colonies are significantly different from those in Western Australia.
3. They often mistake floating plastic for food, which is a leading cause of health issues in the species.
4. They are known to travel thousands of miles during their migration to the North Pacific.

• The best way to see this species is on a pelagic birding boat trip in the southwest Pacific or off the coast of Western Australia.
• Look for their pale bills and pink feet to distinguish them from other dark-plumaged shearwaters.
• During the breeding season, they can sometimes be seen from headlands as they return to their island colonies at dusk.

The flesh-footed shearwater is a resilient but vulnerable traveler of the high seas. As an indicator of ocean health, the challenges it faces—from plastic pollution to climate change—highlight the urgent need for marine conservation efforts to protect its future.