Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Post-breeding migration of four Long-tailed Skuas (Stercorarius longicaudus) from North and East Greenland to West Africa

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ornithology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus) is a specialist predator of lemmings during the summer and hence an important component of the tundra ecosystems, but most of its life cycle takes place offshore and remains largely unknown outside of the breeding season. Using 9.5-g solar-powered satellite transmitters, we were able to document for the first time the post-breeding movements of the Long-tailed Skua, from its high-Arctic breeding-grounds in North and Eastern Greenland to the tropical waters of West Africa. The birds traveled the approximately 10,000 km of this migration in only 3–5 weeks, covering 800–900 km/day during active migration, which also occurred during nighttime. Leaving their breeding areas in August (except for one failed breeder), the Long-tailed Skuas first moved south along the coast of East Greenland towards a staging area off the Canadian Great Banks where they stayed for 1–3 weeks. From there, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean eastwards in just 1 week, entering African waters near the Madeira Archipelago in September. Although only four birds were monitored for 1.5–3 months, the data reveal that the migration routes between birds breeding in different locations and in different years were relatively similar.

Zusammenfassung

Falkenraubmöwen ernähren sich während der Brutzeit hauptsächlich von Lemmingen und stellen somit ein wichtiges Glied in Tundren-Ökosystemen dar. Da sie aber den Großteil ihres Lebens auf hoher See verbringen, ist über ihre Lebensweise außerhalb der Brutsaison nur wenig bekannt. Mit Hilfe von 9.5 g schweren, solarbetriebenen Satellitensendern konnten nun erstmals die Zugbewegungen von den hocharktischen Brutplätzen in Nord- und Ostgrönland bis in die tropischen Gewässer vor der westafrikanischen Küste dokumentiert werden. Innerhalb von 3 bis 5 Wochen legten die Vögel etwa 10,000 km zurück. Die Tagesetappen betrugen 800 bis 900 km, wobei die Vögel auch nachts zogen. Nach dem Verlassen der Brutgebiete im August flogen die Vögel zunächst entlang der ostgrönländischen Küste bis zum Festlandsockel vor Neufundland, wo sie 1 bis 3 Wochen blieben. Sie überquerten anschließend in nur einer Woche den Atlantik in südöstlicher Richtung und gelangten über Madeira und die Kanaren bis in die Nähe der Kapverdischen Inseln. Bislang konnten wir nur 4 Vögel über einen Zeitraum von 1.5 bis 3 Monate verfolgen, jedoch wiesen die Zugrouten aus unterschiedlichen Brutgebieten in beiden Untersuchungsjahren ähnliche Muster auf.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersson M (1971) Breeding behaviour of the Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus (Vieillot). Ornis Scand 2:35–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson M (1976) Population ecology of the Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus Vieill.). J Anim Ecol 45:537–559

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson M (1981) Reproductive tactics of the Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus. Oikos 37:287–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Baillon F, Dubois P (1991) Seawatching from Cape Verde, Senegal. Birding World 4:440–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RGB, Cooke, F, Kinnear PK, Mills EL (1975) Summer seabird distributions in Drake Passage, the Chilean fjords and off southern South America. Ibis 117:339–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) (2008) Argos user’s manual. CLS, Toulouse

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyne MS, Godley BJ (2005) Satellite tracking and analysis tool (STAT): an integrated system for archiving, analyzing and mapping animal tracking data. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 301:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramp S (1985) Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, vol 4. Terns to Woodpeckers. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramp S, Simmons KEL (1983) Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, vol 3. Waders to Gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois JP, Holmström N, Verneau A (2009) La péninsule du Cap-Vert à Dakar, Sénégal, est-elle la “Mecque” du seawatching? Ornithos 4:220–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Egevang C, Stenhouse IJ, Phillips RA, Petersen A, Fox JW, Silk JRD (2010) Tracking of Arctic terns Sterna paradisaea reveals longest animal migration. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:2078–2081

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Felicísimo AM, Munñoz J, González-Solis J (2008) Ocean surface winds drive dynamics of transoceanic aerial movements. PLoS ONE 3:e2928

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Furness RW (1987) The Skuas. Poyser, Calton

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness RW, Crane JE, Bearhop S et al (2006) Techniques to link individual migration patterns of seabirds with diet specialization, condition and breeding performance. Ardea 94:631–638

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilg O (2002) The summer decline of the collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) in high Arctic Greenland. Oikos 99:499–510

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilg O, Hanski I, Sittler B (2003) Cyclic dynamics in a simple vertebrate predator-prey community. Science 302:866–868

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilg O, Sittler B, Sabard B, Hurstel A, Sané R, Delattre P, Hanski I (2006) Functional and numerical responses of four lemming predators in high Arctic Greenland. Oikos 113:196–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilg O, Sittler B, Hanski I (2009) Climate change and cyclic predator-prey population dynamics in the high-Arctic. Global Change Biol 15:2634–2652

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilg O, Strøm H, Aebischer A, Gavrilo MV, Volkov A, Miljeteig C, Sabard B (2010) Post-breeding movements of the northeast Atlantic ivory gull Pagophila eburnea populations. J Avian Biol 41:532–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison P (1989) Seabirds. Christopher Helm, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hays GC, Åkesson S, Godley BJ, Luschi P, Santidrian P (2001) The implications of location accuracy for the interpretation of satellite-tracking data. Anim Behav 61:1035–1040

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell SNG, Webb S (1995) Noteworthy bird observations from Chile. Bull Br Orn Club 115:57–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchings L (1992) Fish harvesting in a variable, productive environment—searching for rules or searching for exceptions? S Afr J Mar Sci 12:297–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Imboden C, Imboden D (1972) Formel für Orthodrome und Loxodrome bei der Berechnung von Richtung und Distanz zwischen Beringungs- und Wiederfundort. Vogelwarte 26:336–346

    Google Scholar 

  • James MC, Eckert SA, Myers RA (2005) Migratory and reproductive movements of male leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). Mar Biol 147:845–853

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson AW (1965) The birds of Chile and adjacent regions of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, vol 1. Platt Establecimientos Gráficos, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Kampp K (2001) Seabird observations from the South and Central Atlantic Ocean, Antarctica to 30°N, March-April 1998 and 2000. Atlantic Seabirds 3:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Korte J de (1984) Ecology of the long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus Vieillot, 1819) at Scoresby Sund, East Greenland. Part two: arrival, site tenacity and departure. Beaufortia 34:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Korte J de (1985) Ecology of the long-tailed Skua, Stercorarius longicaudus Vieillot, 1819, at Scoresby Sund, East Greenland. Part three: clutch size, laying date and incubation in relation to energy reserves. Beaufortia 35:93–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert K (1980) Ein Überwinterungsgebiet der Falkenraubmöwe, Stercorarius longicaudus Vieill. 1819, vor Südwest- und Südafrika entdeckt. Beitr Vogelkunde 26:199–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert K (1988) Nächtlichte Zugaktivität von Seevögeln im Golf von Guinea. Beitr Vogelkunde 34:29–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert K (2005) The spatial and seasonal occurrence of seabirds (Aves) off southern Mozambique. Durban Museum Novitates 30:45–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert K (2006) Seabird sightings in the waters off Angola, 1966–1988. Mar Ornithol 34:77–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson R (2007) Site tenacity of the Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus—a study of the population at Stekenjokk. Ornis Svecica 17:81–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis M (1991) The status of Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus in Australian waters. Aust Bird Watcher 14:119–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Maher WJ (1970) Ecology of the Long-tailed Jaeger at Lake Hazen, Ellesmere Island. Arctic 23:112–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchant S, Higgins PJ (1996) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds, vol 3. Pratincoles to Pigeons. Oxford University Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Meltofte H, Høye TT (2007) Reproductive response to fluctuating lemming density and climate of the Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus at Zackenberg, Northeast Greenland, 1996–2006. Dansk Orn Foren Tidsskr 101:109–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Melville DS (1985) Long-tailed skuas Stercorarius longicaudus in New Zealand. Notornis 32:51–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy RC (1936) Ocean birds of South America. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson K (2008) Senegal—Havsfågelskådning I världsklass. Vår Fågelvärld 5:18–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen KM, Larsson H (1997) Skuas and Jaegers. Pica Press, Sussex

    Google Scholar 

  • Orgeira JL (2001) Distributión especial de densidades de aves marinas en la platforma continental Argentina y Océano Atlantico sur. Ornitol Neotrop 12:45–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan PG (1989) The distribution and abundance of Long-tailed Skuas off southern Africa. Ostrich 60:89–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt NM, Berg TB, Forchhammer M, Hendrichsen DK, Kyhn LA, Meltofte H, Høye TT (2008) Vertebrate predator-prey interactions in a seasonal environment. Adv Ecol Res 40:345–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Sittler B (1995) Response of stoat (Mustela erminea) to a fluctuating lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) population in North East Greenland: preliminary results from a long term study. Ann Zool Fennici 32:79–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuck G (1985) A guide to seabirds on the ocean routes. Collins, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuck G, Heinzel H (1985) Guide des oiseaux de mer. Delachaux et Niestlé, Neuchâtel

    Google Scholar 

  • Veit RR (1985) Long-tailed jaegers wintering along the Falkland current. Am Birds 39:873–878

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent C, McConnell BJ, Ridoux V, Fedak MA (2002) Assessment of Argos location accuracy from satellite tags deployed on captive gray seals. Mar Mamm Sci 18:156–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetmore A (1926) Observations on the birds of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile. US Natl Mus Bull 133

  • Wiley RH, Lee DS (1998) Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus). In: Poole A (ed) The birds of North America—online. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca. Available at: http://www.bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/365

  • Wood KA (1989) Seasonal abundance, marine habitats and behaviour of skuas of central New South Wales. Corella 13:97–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynne-Edwards VC (1935) On the habits and distribution of birds on the North Atlantic. Proc Boston Soc Nat Hist 40:233–346

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique and the Musée d’histoire naturelle de Fribourg for financial support, to Pascal Grand, Brigitte Sabard, and Luc Hardy for their help in the field, to the Government of Greenland (Ministry of Domestic Affairs, Nature and Environment) for granting access and research permits in the “North and East Greenland National Park”, and to Ross Bartley for his comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique, 16 rue de Vernot, 21440, Francheville, France

    Benoît Sittler, Adrian Aebischer & Olivier Gilg

  2. Institut für Landespflege, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstraße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany

    Benoît Sittler

  3. Museum of Natural History, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Adrian Aebischer

  4. Lab. Biogéosciences, UMR CNRS 5561, Université de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France

    Olivier Gilg

  5. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Olivier Gilg

Authors
  1. Benoît Sittler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adrian Aebischer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Olivier Gilg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivier Gilg.

Additional information

Communicated by F. Bairlein.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sittler, B., Aebischer, A. & Gilg, O. Post-breeding migration of four Long-tailed Skuas (Stercorarius longicaudus) from North and East Greenland to West Africa. J Ornithol 152, 375–381 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-010-0597-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-010-0597-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation