Pre-breeding movements and early nest visits by the Levantine shearwater Pufflnus yelkouan in Malta

Abstract

Pre-breeding movements and early nest visits by the levantine Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan in the Maltese islands during the pre-breeding months (August-October) are reported. Observations at nesting sites were carried out mainly from a colony located on the northeastern side of Malta, estimated as holding about 500 pairs by Sultana & Gauci ( 1982). land based observations were carried out from headlands while boat trips contributed to a considerable increase in the number of birds observed offshore between August and October. Ringing recoveries have shown that post-fledging birds as well as an unknown number of adults disperse into the Black and Aegean seas, but some adult birds have been found to remain in the vicinity of the nesting colonies throughout the whole year. Single birds handled during the month of September were found to be in heavy wing and body moult. At the end of the moult cycle birds start to make occasional visits to the nests.