Black Storm-Petrel - Ross Feldner

Storm Petrels get their name from their habit of flying alongside ships during storms to take shelter from high winds.

The Black Storm-Petrel is a small seabird that breeds in colonies off the southern coast of California, preferring to nest in rock crevices and small burrows in the ground. Colonies are attended nocturnally to avoid predatory birds such as gulls, hawks and owls.

Black Storm-Petrels have suffered losses on some breeding islands due to feral cats and rats, but island restoration projects have removed these predators from several nesting islands.

Other than in breeding season the Black Storm-Petrel spends its time at sea, but stays closer to the shore than other storm-petrels. Preferred prey are small crustaceans but it will also eat small fish and squid. Feeding techniques include plunge diving to around 3 feet into the water and then eating on the surface.