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LACK OF A ‘DESERTION PERIOD’ IN THE NESTLING LIFE OF THE PUFFIN FRATERCULA ARCTICA
Author(s) -
Harris M. P.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1976.tb02016.x
Subject(s) - puffinus , ibis , ornithology , seabird , conservation biology , biology , ecology , shearwater , zoology , fishery , southern hemisphere , predation
The desertion of eggs and chicks by adult Sooty Terns in 1973, and the failure to re-occupy this deserted area in 1974, appears to have been due to the heavy infestation of 0. cupensis ticks in that part of the colony, either due to the birds contracting a virus infection or perhaps simply due to irritation following tick bites. The unexplained night desertion of Common Terns observed by Marshall (1942) followed a pattern similar to that observed on Bird Island, and ticks may be implicated there. Similarly, Evans (1970) noted that Puffin Frutmula urctica burrows in southwest Ireland were heavily infested with ticks and mites following a sharp decline in the breeding colonies of auks in that area.