Many seabirds take detours to escape storms—but not striped gulls! A new study led by Professor Ken Yoda of Nagoya University in Japan suggests that these brave seabirds often fly into the eye of storms to survive.
The scientists analyzed data collected over 11 years from GPS trackers on the wings of 401 gulls that nested in Awashima, Japan. They found that during ten typhoons, or tropical storms, 75 of them chose to fly. Some even chased the eye of the storm for up to eight hours!
“This is one of those moments where we can’t believe what we’re seeing,” said study co-author Emily Shepard. “We have some predictions about how they will behave, but this is not one of them.”
The researchers, who published their findings in 2022 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, say that gulls thrive in windy environments. Strong winds on the water allow the birds to glide long distances without flapping their wings excessively, saving energy. Although comfortable in the air, seagulls are awkward on land. These birds are difficult to fly, putting them at risk from predators such as crows and cats.
This may explain why some seagulls prefer to fly into storms to survive. But to do that, birds need to know where the land is so they can avoid it. Adult gulls seem to have developed a mental map that guides them in the right direction. But young birds may not have the experience, to acquire this knowledge. This may be why large numbers of young striped gulls wash up on shorelines after storms.
This is the first time birds have been observed flying into a severe storm. However, Andrew Farnsworth, a bird expert at Cornell University, believes this may be a common strategy seabirds use to conserve energy during hurricanes. “It might seem counterintuitive,” he said. “But from a bird behavior standpoint, it makes a lot of sense.”
The scientists analyzed data collected over 11 years from GPS trackers on the wings of 401 gulls that nested in Awashima, Japan. They found that during ten typhoons, or tropical storms, 75 of them chose to fly. Some even chased the eye of the storm for up to eight hours!
“This is one of those moments where we can’t believe what we’re seeing,” said study co-author Emily Shepard. “We have some predictions about how they will behave, but this is not one of them.”
The researchers, who published their findings in 2022 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, say that gulls thrive in windy environments. Strong winds on the water allow the birds to glide long distances without flapping their wings excessively, saving energy. Although comfortable in the air, seagulls are awkward on land. These birds are difficult to fly, putting them at risk from predators such as crows and cats.
This may explain why some seagulls prefer to fly into storms to survive. But to do that, birds need to know where the land is so they can avoid it. Adult gulls seem to have developed a mental map that guides them in the right direction. But young birds may not have the experience, to acquire this knowledge. This may be why large numbers of young striped gulls wash up on shorelines after storms.
This is the first time birds have been observed flying into a severe storm. However, Andrew Farnsworth, a bird expert at Cornell University, believes this may be a common strategy seabirds use to conserve energy during hurricanes. “It might seem counterintuitive,” he said. “But from a bird behavior standpoint, it makes a lot of sense.”
