Attraction of the European Storm-petrel to heterospecific calls of other north Atlantic Procellariiformes

Full article

Published:

Volume 41(2), December 1994. Pages 141-149.

Language:

English

Keywords:

acoustic signals, European Storm-petrel, heterospecific interaction, play-back attraction.

Abstract:

It is known that nocturnal petrels are strongly attracted to conspecific vocalizations. Two experiments were performed to determine if attraction to heterospecific calls occurs in the European Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus). Five playing calls of procellariiforms were tested to lure the birds at different sites: the Atlantic subspecies of the European Storm-petrel, H. p. pelagicus, the Mediterranean subspecies, H. p. melitensis, and vocalizations of three species of North Atlantic procellariiforms, Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea and Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus. To compare attraction of the Atlantic Storm-petrels, playback tests were performed at three breeding colonies on small barren islands and at two close coastal sites in the North of Spain. Similar experimental sessions were conducted at a Mediterranean colony, in order to investigate types of response. Both at the colonies and on the coast, Storm-petrels responded to all tape lures, but attraction to playback vocalizations of shearwaters was smaller. Surprisingly, the Leach's Storm-petrel calls elicited behavioural responses. It is suggested that heterospecific vocalizations, and not only conspecific, may act as indicators of quality of potential breeding habitats.