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Chick diets and food intake of nestling Common Guillemots Uria aalge: an inter-colony comparison
Hatchwell, B.J., Birkhead, T.R., Goodburn, S.F., Perrins, J.M. & Jones, S.E. (1992) Seabird 14:15-20
SUMMARY
The feeding ecology of Common Guillemot chicks at two colonies, Skomer and Lundy Islands, situated 75km apart in the south Irish Sea was compared over two years. The diets of chicks varied significantly between colonies, with Lundy chicks fed on smaller prey than those on Skomer. However, chicks were fed more frequently on Lundy so the estimated daily energy intake was similar at both colonies. Parents on Lundy made shorter foraging trips than on Skomer. Chick diet and foraging ranges indicated little overlap in foraging areas. Fish fed to chicks were generally of higher quality than those used for display.

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Notes

Prey size classes:
Clupeids: Small 80-100mm, Medium 100-120mm, Large 120-140mm
Sandeels: Small 80-110mm, Medium 110-140mm, Large 140-170mm

Foraging trip durations:
Lundy 1985, median 26 minutes from 77 trips of recorded length (28% of total feeds from 4 hour watches).
Lundy 1986, median 28 minutes from 84 trips of recorded length (40% of total feeds from 4 hour watches).

  • Birkhead, T.R., Goodburn, S.F. & Hatchwell, B.J. (1986) "Feeding Ecology of Common Guillemot Chicks on Lundy" Annual Report of the Lundy Field Society 1985 36:25-26
    [notes]
    Annual Report of the Lundy Field Society 1985 36

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    Created 15/11/08
    Last Modified 09/04/16