Researchers discover a very old puffs on an island in Fundy Bay

Scientists studying the life of puffs on an island located in Fundy bay say. Meanwhile, they have discovered a very old bird.

Daniel Oliker. Similarly, a master’s degree in the University of New Brunswick, says that the bird in question could be 33 years old.

The animal is 10 years older than him, he adds amazed.

Plate. For example. Similarly, without trees, Machias Seal Island is a refuge for sea birds located about 19 kilometers southwest of Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick. Consequently, About 8,600 puffs reproduce on this island at the mouth of Fundy bay.

Mr. Moreover, Oliker says that last week. For example. In addition, his colleague researcher had spotted one of the puffs of the island with a green and white plastic ring. Moreover, These rings were used by the Canadian researchers discover very old puffs new Wildlife Service from the 1970s until around 1995. However, when they began researchers discover very old puffs to be replaced by metal rings.

Around midnight, Mr. In addition, Oliker. However. a few researchers returned to the location to search the burrows – the nests where the puffs rest at night after a day at sea – in search of the old bird.

After searches a few burrows, they found the right bird by palpating the rings on their legs. Meanwhile, Some wore metal rings.

“I felt one that seemed a little different.. as the bird was in the right place, there we had spotted it, I took it out and it was the right one,” he recalls in an interview from the island.

The old bird was curious and did not present many resistances.

The researchers replaced the plastic ring with a metal ring, giving the ulter off its new researchers discover very old puffs new number: JG18. They do not yet know his sex.

Having such an old bird is “very researchers discover very old puffs exciting” and “really incredible” for Mr. Oliker, who adds that the pimples in freedom usually live until mid-vings.

Having heard the pitch in his arms packed him.

Mr. Oliker says he thought of experiences lived by this bird. at the time that the animal has spent flying over the ocean. the number of times it has plunged or the number of chicks it has raised.

He mentions that a nestion lived in the nest of the ulterior motive. The student said he was pleasantly surprised that he could still raise a little at his great age.

The chick was of a “decent size”. which is pleasantly surprising, because the puffs suffer this year from an apparent lack of food, he explains. Several eggs have not hatched and several puffs researchers discover very old puffs new – babies – died.

“It is very likely that this ulterior motive. being so old, has experience and knows what it researchers discover very old puffs does. He was therefore able to find a burrow adapted to his partner. to himself and to the egg, which allowed the birth of a chick, he advances. It is very likely, thanks to its seniority, that it knows which places are the most favorable to fish. ”

Birds are starting to give birth to small ones around the age of four or five. The old bird has undoubtedly had 25 chicks during his life, even if they have not all survived.

Nick Lund. head of the American wildlife conservation network Maine Audubon. explains that climate change is one of the greatest threats to the puffs of the Gulf of Maine.

“The Gulf of Maine is the most southern reproduction area of the puffs researchers discover very old puffs new in the Atlantic. but the waters warm up very quickly,” he notes.

“New species of fish migrate to the warming waters. and other species traditionally consumed researchers discover very old puffs by the puffs move away from it. The ability of puffs to adapt to these new species of fish is a central question for their survival. in the Gulf. ”

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies puffs as “vulnerable”. which means that they are faced with a high risk of extinction in the wild.

The discovery of such an elderly puffing is interesting. important. because it provides data confirming their longevity, underlines Heather Major, Marine Biology Professor at the University of New Brunswick who studies these birds on Machias Seal Island.

An article published last year in the journal Ecology. Evolution indicates that the survival of puffs have decreased over time. which is particularly worrying because researchers discover very old puffs new they play an important role in the population growth of the species.

Mr. Oliker hopes to be able to observe the ulterior motive again in the coming years.

“We haven’t given researchers discover very old puffs him a name yet. Now that he has a new group. we know who it is in the database. we can find one and it could be fun to see if he is still there in the years to come. Additionally, We can then call it by name. ”