The distribution and diel movements of Brünnich's guillemot Uria lomvia in ice covered waters in the Barents Sea, February/March 1987

Abstract

The distribution of Brünnich's guillemot in ice covered waters and near the marginal ice zone in the southern part of the Barents Sea was mapped from ship and helicopter in February/March 1987. High densities of Brünnich's guillemot (up to 1,300 ind./km2) were found in ice leads. The density of birds was especially high over shallow banks where the sea depth was 40-80 m. A diel movement was also recorded. In the evening the birds left the leads and flew south. Next morning they returned to feed in the open leads. How far they migrated is uncertain, but possibly they flew down to the open sea or to leads close to the marginal ice zone. The migration may have been a means of avoiding to become trapped if leads closed after dark.