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Michael P. Harris - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Fit is fat: winter body mass of Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica
Bird Study, 2018Co-Authors: Tycho Anker-nilssen, Jens-kjeld Jensen, Michael P. HarrisAbstract:Capsule: Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica from Scottish and Norwegian populations were significantly heavier in winter than when rearing chicks.Aims: To compare body masses of Atlantic Puffins o...
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Aging Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica in summer and winter
2014Co-Authors: Michael P. HarrisAbstract:Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica in summer and winter plumage can be aged as first-year, second-year, third-year, young adult and old adult using the number of grooves on the outer part of the beak. The technique is useful to bird ringers and those dealing with birds found dead in wrecks and pollution incidents where knowledge of the ages of individuals involved can help assess the likely effect on breeding populations.
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The biggest Atlantic puffin wreck yet
2013Co-Authors: Michael P. Harris, Sarah WanlessAbstract:Wrecks of seabirds, in which large numbers of birds are washed ashore after prolonged onshore gales, occur periodically in the North Sea. In mid March 2013, after a run of strong easterlies, it was Puffins, Fratercula arctica, that suffered.
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Using GPS technology to assess feeding areas of Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica
Ringing & Migration, 2012Co-Authors: Michael P. Harris, Maria I. Bogdanova, Francis Daunt, Sarah WanlessAbstract:Large areas of sea around Britain have been identified as potential sites for renewable energy development, heightening the need for information about important areas for seabirds. The Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica is one of the commonest seabirds in northeast Britain yet little is known about where individuals feed. We used back-mounted GPS loggers to track Atlantic Puffins breeding at a colony close to where wind farms are proposed. During chick rearing, birds made two types of feeding trip: long absences that included an overnight stay at distant (38–66 km) feeding areas and short daytime excursions to areas much nearer the colony (9–17 km). There was considerable overlap of the distant feeding area with the proposed wind farms. However, Atlantic Puffins are known to be sensitive to disturbance and comparison of individuals with and without loggers showed that the birds' behaviour had been disrupted by some aspect of the procedure. While the areas used by the birds carrying GPS loggers accorded wi...
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Adult survival rates of Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Common Guillemot (Uria aalge), Razorbill (Alca torda), Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) on the Isle of May 1986-96
2000Co-Authors: Michael P. Harris, Sarah Wanless, Peter RotheryAbstract:On the Isle of May between 1986 and 1996, the average adult survival of Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis was 82.1%, Common Guillemots Uria aalge 95.2%, Razorbills Alca torda 90.5%, Puffins Fratercula arctica 91.6% and Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla 88.2%. Shags, Razorbills and Puffins all had a single year of exceptionally low survival but these years did not coincide. In contrast, Kittiwake survival declined significantly over the period and there was evidence that substantial non-breeding occurred in several years. Breeding success of Kittiwakes also declined, which gives rise to concern for its future status. Given a high enough level of resighting, return rates (the proportion of birds known to be alive one year that were seen the next year) on a year-by-year basis provide a reasonable indication of relative changes in adult survival.
Sarah Wanless - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The biggest Atlantic puffin wreck yet
2013Co-Authors: Michael P. Harris, Sarah WanlessAbstract:Wrecks of seabirds, in which large numbers of birds are washed ashore after prolonged onshore gales, occur periodically in the North Sea. In mid March 2013, after a run of strong easterlies, it was Puffins, Fratercula arctica, that suffered.
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Using GPS technology to assess feeding areas of Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica
Ringing & Migration, 2012Co-Authors: Michael P. Harris, Maria I. Bogdanova, Francis Daunt, Sarah WanlessAbstract:Large areas of sea around Britain have been identified as potential sites for renewable energy development, heightening the need for information about important areas for seabirds. The Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica is one of the commonest seabirds in northeast Britain yet little is known about where individuals feed. We used back-mounted GPS loggers to track Atlantic Puffins breeding at a colony close to where wind farms are proposed. During chick rearing, birds made two types of feeding trip: long absences that included an overnight stay at distant (38–66 km) feeding areas and short daytime excursions to areas much nearer the colony (9–17 km). There was considerable overlap of the distant feeding area with the proposed wind farms. However, Atlantic Puffins are known to be sensitive to disturbance and comparison of individuals with and without loggers showed that the birds' behaviour had been disrupted by some aspect of the procedure. While the areas used by the birds carrying GPS loggers accorded wi...
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Adult survival rates of Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Common Guillemot (Uria aalge), Razorbill (Alca torda), Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) on the Isle of May 1986-96
2000Co-Authors: Michael P. Harris, Sarah Wanless, Peter RotheryAbstract:On the Isle of May between 1986 and 1996, the average adult survival of Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis was 82.1%, Common Guillemots Uria aalge 95.2%, Razorbills Alca torda 90.5%, Puffins Fratercula arctica 91.6% and Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla 88.2%. Shags, Razorbills and Puffins all had a single year of exceptionally low survival but these years did not coincide. In contrast, Kittiwake survival declined significantly over the period and there was evidence that substantial non-breeding occurred in several years. Breeding success of Kittiwakes also declined, which gives rise to concern for its future status. Given a high enough level of resighting, return rates (the proportion of birds known to be alive one year that were seen the next year) on a year-by-year basis provide a reasonable indication of relative changes in adult survival.
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long term changes in breeding performance of puffins Fratercula arctica on st kilda
Bird Study, 1998Co-Authors: M P Harris, S Murray, Sarah WanlessAbstract:(1998). Long-term changes in breeding performance of Puffins Fratercula arctica on St Kilda. Bird Study: Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 371-374.
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Ingested elastic and other artifacts found in puffins in Britain over a 24-year period
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 1994Co-Authors: Michael P. Harris, Sarah WanlessAbstract:In 1969-1970 the numbers of puffins (Fratercula arctica) nesting in Britain and Ireland were found to be much reduced compared to previous years. Coincidentally, lengths of elastic were recovered from the stomachs of puffins shot off Norway or found dead in eastern Britain, and the ingestion of such pollutants was considered a possible causative factor in the decline of the puffin. The latter authors noted that further studies were underway to assess the frequency of occurrence of elastic in puffins. This contribution reports on artifacts found between 1969 and 1992.
M P Harris - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The food of young Puffins Fratercula arctica
Journal of Zoology, 2009Co-Authors: M P Harris, J. R. G. HislopAbstract:Although Puffins fed their young on those species of small fish that were most abundant in mid water, there was some evidence of selectivity. Sandeels and Sprats were by far the most important prey species. Rockling and Whiting were also taken but they were less suitable because of their small size and low calorific value respectively. Many of the abundant gadoid and flatfish species were not preyed on to any extent. Some years Puffins on St Kilda fed their young on Whiting but in these years chicks fledged at lower weights than in years when young were fed on Sprats. It is suggested that Puffins on St Kilda were short of the best prey species compared to those on the Isle of May and were forced to feed their young on sub-optimal food.
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Biology and survival of the immature Puffin Fratercula arctica
Ibis, 2008Co-Authors: M P HarrisAbstract:The biology and survival of Puffins were studied in northeast Scotland. Puffins usually bred first when aged four or five years but returned for several seasons prior to this. Young birds were probably prevented from returning earlier in the season because they moult their primaries in the spring and early summer. As they got older, they came to the colony earlier in the year, displayed and tried to get a burrow. Younger immatures may summer in specific areas away from the colonies. Many immatures visited colonies other than where they were hatched. This was particularly marked in July of their third year. Up to 23% of Puffins of both sexes permanently emigrated and it is suggested that such behaviour is widespread among auks. About 60 % of fledglings returned to the natal colonies and 30% of fledglings appeared to reach breeding age (although the true figure will be higher as this does not include birds which emigrated). Adult survival was c.96% per annum. The population could theoretically increase by c.7% but the observed rate of increase was c.9% per annum.
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long term changes in breeding performance of puffins Fratercula arctica on st kilda
Bird Study, 1998Co-Authors: M P Harris, S Murray, Sarah WanlessAbstract:(1998). Long-term changes in breeding performance of Puffins Fratercula arctica on St Kilda. Bird Study: Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 371-374.
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A comparison of feeding areas used by individual Common Murres (Uria aalge), Razorbills (Alca torda) and an Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) during the breeding season
Colonial Waterbirds, 1990Co-Authors: S. Wanless, M P Harris, J. A. MorrisAbstract:-We radio-tagged and followed the movements of six Common Murres (Uria aalge), three Razorbills (Alca torda) and one Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) that were feeding young, and two Common Murres that were incubating on the Isle of May, Firth of Forth, Scotland. While there was some overlap in feeding areas among the three species, there were also marked differences. Razorbills were more likely to feed well away from the colony and, in contrast to Common Murres and the Atlantic Puffin, rarely dived close to the island. Razorbills appeared to favor areas of relatively shallow water. Individual birds did not show strong fidelity to a particular feeding area, nor did the location of feeding areas change on a day-to-day basis. Received 2 May 1989, accepted 30 August 1989.
J. Mark Hipfner - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Corticosterone and stable isotopes in feathers predict egg size in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica
Ibis, 2013Co-Authors: Amy-lee Kouwenberg, Donald W Mckay, J. Mark Hipfner, Anne E. StoreyAbstract:Examining factors that operate outside the breeding season may provide new insights into life-history traits such as egg size, in which individual variation has not been fully explained. We measured corticosterone (CORT) levels and δ15N values (trophic level) in feathers grown several months before egg-laying to test the prediction that a female's physiological state and feeding behaviour prior to the breeding season can influence egg mass in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica. As predicted, egg mass increased with both CORT and δ15N values in feathers, suggesting that the ability of female Puffins to meet the nutritional costs of egg production is related to CORT promoting increased foraging effort during moult and to consumption of a higher trophic-level diet.
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Subcolony Variation in Breeding Success in the Tufted Puffin (Fratercula Cirrhata): Association With Foraging Ecology and Implications
The Auk, 2007Co-Authors: J. Mark Hipfner, Mathieu R. Charette, Gwylim S. BlackburnAbstract:Abstract Large-scale oceanographic processes are the main drivers of seabird breeding success, but small-scale processes, though not as well understood, can also be important. We compared the success of Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) breeding at two subcolonies only 1.5 km apart on Triangle Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2002–2005. In addition, we used stable-isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that parental foraging strategies differed between the two subcolonies, potentially underlying the variation in breeding success. Success was concordant across years at the two sites but, overall, Tufted Puffins bred more successfully at Strata Rock than at Puffin Rock. They raised chicks in all four years at Strata Rock, but in only three years at Puffin Rock; in two of those three years, Strata Rock chicks were, on average, 60 g and 100 g heavier than Puffin Rock chicks just before fledging. Discriminant analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable-isotope ratios in egg yolk and chick blood in 2004 and 2005 indicated that parental foraging differed between the two subcolonies, with both spatial (δ13C) and trophic-level (δ15N) differences involved. Thus, our study demonstrates the existence of foraging asymmetries in a pelagic seabird at a small spatial scale (between subcolonies), complementing patterns found at larger scales (between colonies). Moreover, the foraging asymmetries were associated with inequalities in fitness measures. We conclude that small-scale processes—in this case, systematic differences in the foraging ecology of local groups—can interact with large-scale oceanographic processes to determine seabird breeding success. Variation sous-coloniale du succès de reproduction de Fratercula cirrhata: Association avec l'écologie de la quête alimentaire et implications
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SUBCOLONY VARIATION IN BREEDING SUCCESS IN THE TUFTED PUFFIN (Fratercula CIRRHATA): ASSOCIATION WITH FORAGING ECOLOGY AND IMPLICATIONS
The Auk, 2007Co-Authors: J. Mark Hipfner, Mathieu R. Charette, Gwylim S. BlackburnAbstract:Abstract Large-scale oceanographic processes are the main drivers of seabird breeding success, but small-scale processes, though not as well understood, can also be important. We compared the success of Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) breeding at two subcolonies only 1.5 km apart on Triangle Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2002–2005. In addition, we used stable-isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that parental foraging strategies differed between the two subcolonies, potentially underlying the variation in breeding success. Success was concordant across years at the two sites but, overall, Tufted Puffins bred more successfully at Strata Rock than at Puffin Rock. They raised chicks in all four years at Strata Rock, but in only three years at Puffin Rock; in two of those three years, Strata Rock chicks were, on average, 60 g and 100 g heavier than Puffin Rock chicks just before fledging. Discriminant analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable-isotope ratios in egg yolk and chick blood in 2004 and 200...
Gwylim S. Blackburn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Subcolony Variation in Breeding Success in the Tufted Puffin (Fratercula Cirrhata): Association With Foraging Ecology and Implications
The Auk, 2007Co-Authors: J. Mark Hipfner, Mathieu R. Charette, Gwylim S. BlackburnAbstract:Abstract Large-scale oceanographic processes are the main drivers of seabird breeding success, but small-scale processes, though not as well understood, can also be important. We compared the success of Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) breeding at two subcolonies only 1.5 km apart on Triangle Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2002–2005. In addition, we used stable-isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that parental foraging strategies differed between the two subcolonies, potentially underlying the variation in breeding success. Success was concordant across years at the two sites but, overall, Tufted Puffins bred more successfully at Strata Rock than at Puffin Rock. They raised chicks in all four years at Strata Rock, but in only three years at Puffin Rock; in two of those three years, Strata Rock chicks were, on average, 60 g and 100 g heavier than Puffin Rock chicks just before fledging. Discriminant analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable-isotope ratios in egg yolk and chick blood in 2004 and 2005 indicated that parental foraging differed between the two subcolonies, with both spatial (δ13C) and trophic-level (δ15N) differences involved. Thus, our study demonstrates the existence of foraging asymmetries in a pelagic seabird at a small spatial scale (between subcolonies), complementing patterns found at larger scales (between colonies). Moreover, the foraging asymmetries were associated with inequalities in fitness measures. We conclude that small-scale processes—in this case, systematic differences in the foraging ecology of local groups—can interact with large-scale oceanographic processes to determine seabird breeding success. Variation sous-coloniale du succès de reproduction de Fratercula cirrhata: Association avec l'écologie de la quête alimentaire et implications
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SUBCOLONY VARIATION IN BREEDING SUCCESS IN THE TUFTED PUFFIN (Fratercula CIRRHATA): ASSOCIATION WITH FORAGING ECOLOGY AND IMPLICATIONS
The Auk, 2007Co-Authors: J. Mark Hipfner, Mathieu R. Charette, Gwylim S. BlackburnAbstract:Abstract Large-scale oceanographic processes are the main drivers of seabird breeding success, but small-scale processes, though not as well understood, can also be important. We compared the success of Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) breeding at two subcolonies only 1.5 km apart on Triangle Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2002–2005. In addition, we used stable-isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that parental foraging strategies differed between the two subcolonies, potentially underlying the variation in breeding success. Success was concordant across years at the two sites but, overall, Tufted Puffins bred more successfully at Strata Rock than at Puffin Rock. They raised chicks in all four years at Strata Rock, but in only three years at Puffin Rock; in two of those three years, Strata Rock chicks were, on average, 60 g and 100 g heavier than Puffin Rock chicks just before fledging. Discriminant analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable-isotope ratios in egg yolk and chick blood in 2004 and 200...
