Guadalupealk

Taxonomie

Wissenschaftlicher Name

Synthliboramphus hypoleucus

Autorität

(Xántus, J, 1860)

Ordnung

Regenpfeiferartige

Familie

Alkenvögel

Gattung

Synthliboramphus

Verbreitung und Lebensraum

Brutgebiet

MA : ec North Pacific coast: is. Guadalupe and San Benito (w of c Baja California, nw Mexico)

Überwinterungsgebiet

n to coastal n California

Zugverhalten

Resident species

Verhalten

Guadalupe murrelet feeds far out at sea, often in association with large pelagic predatory fish like tuna, on larval fish like anchovies, sardines and Sebastes rockfish. Like all auks it is a wing-propelled diver, chasing down prey under the water with powerful wingbeats. There is some speculation that it may feed cooperatively in pairs, as it is almost always observed in pairs, even during the non-breeding season. It flies well, and can take off without taxiing.<p>It nests in small crevices, caves and under dense bushes on arid islands in loose scattered colonies. It returns to the colony only at night, laying two eggs which are incubated for about a month. Like other synthliboramphine murrelets (e.g. the ancient murrelet) the chicks are highly precocial, leaving the nest within two days of hatching and running actively towards the sea, where the parents call to them. Once at sea the family swims to offshore waters.<p>Little is known about the time at sea due to difficulties in studying them.

Schutzstatus

By the end of the 20th century, the Xantus's murrelet complex was considered to be among the most endangered group of auk. This has changed since, but not because the present species' status has improved, but because other auks have become rarer.<p>Guadalupe murrelet is mainly threatened by oil spills, as much of its population lives near the busy shipping lanes connecting Los Angeles to other ports. Because a large part of its small population nests in such a small area a single catastrophic oil spill could have far reaching implications. It is also threatened by introduced species such as rats and feral cats; this threat has been lessened lately by efforts to restore its habitat by removing introduced predators.

Bestandstrend

declining