Chick mortality of the Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata caused by Typhoon-8211 on Nakamokami-shima, South Ryukyu, Japan

Abstract

Strong storms regularly pass the southern Ryukyu Islands from early summer to late autumn, however their influence on breeding colonies of sea birds in the region has not been studied. A mediumsized but strong storm, Typhoon-8211, passed Nakanokami-shima on 9 August, 1982 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4). On the survey of 18 August, many dead and injured Sooty Tern chichs were found (Table 1). More than ten percent of all Sooty Tern chicks died. Apparently, the Bridled Tern and the Bulwer's Petrel bred in rocky shore would be inflicted destructively since high waves must rage on their colonies frequently, and also the Brown Booby and the Brown Noddy bred on the ledges of cliff seemed to be damaged so much by a strong rainstorm.