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European Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)

In the breeding season European Storm-Petrels are found on rocky islands or promontories, where they nest in crevices between boulders, or under rocks and even in stone walls. Sometimes they choose burrows in the soil instead, but unlike the Leach’s Petrel, they do not dig these themselves. Storm Petrel colonies are sociable places; the birds often nest close together, even in the same rock fissure, and don’t even pay much attention to defending their own nest-site. At night, when these birds visit, the air may be filled with their loud purring calls as the birds perform display-circuits low over their breeding sites, usually in pairs.

European Storm-Petrels are comparatively long-lived for their size, and where possible, pairs meet up every year to breed. They lay a single egg that may weigh as much as a quarter of the female’s weight. Not surprisingly, then, the male tends to take the first incubation shift to give the female time to recover; he may stay put for as long as six days. Although Storm Petrel youngsters are fed by both parents and soon exceed them in weight, they are never abandoned or starved out of their burrows, as can be the case among some species of shearwater.

The Storm Petrel lives at sea outside the breeding season, and most of our birds travel to the coast of South Africa. While feeding they patter on the water surface, often holding their wings far above their backs, holding position.