Cahow Spotted Off Coast Of Ireland

A relatively rare sight anywhere outside of Bermuda, the Bermuda Petrel – better known as the Cahow – has been known to occasionally make its way to other parts of the Atlantic Ocean, but a report made yesterday [May 19] by Irish birdwatchers shows that the far-ranging bird will occasionally travel even as far north as Europe.

A report at IrishBirding.com said, “A Bermuda Petrel [also known as the Cahow] was seen from the R.V. Celtic Voyager at 5.56pm GMT today [May 19] approximately 170 nautical miles west-northwest of Slea Head, County Kerry, during a survey for cetaceans and seabirds.”

Cahow chick born in 2013 as a result of Bermuda’s conservation efforts

“It was picked up at a range of about 250 metres, over a water depth of 1,030 metres, at the head of a canyon on the western slope/shelf edge of the Porcupine Bank. It was on view for a maximum of one minute before heading off in a southeast direction.”

A social media post by the Bermuda Audubon Society confirmed the sighting, adding that proof of the data had been received from geolocaters attached to a number of Cahows. Such geolocaters are put into place in order to help researchers to track the movements of the bird as both a matter of general scientific interest and in order to better promote conservation efforts in Bermuda.

#Animal #BermudaCahow #Birds #Europe

Category: All, Environment