Diets of northern fulmar ( Fulmarus glacialis ) chicks in the northwest Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) have re- cently expanded their breeding range in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. We studied their diet in their largest colony in the northwest Atlantic on Funk Island, eastern Canada, by collecting dietary samples from chicks dur- ing 1999 and 2000. Fish, primarily capelin (Mallotus villosus), and offal from commercial fisheries were the most common foods in the diets of fulmar chicks. Crustaceans were also common prey fed to the chicks. Squids (Gonatus fabricii) were an important food in 2000. Chick diets varied considerably between the 2 years of the study. The diets of northern fulmar chicks on Funk Island were opportunistic and similar to those of chicks at other colonies in the eastern and northern North Atlantic Ocean. Compared to other regions in the North Atlantic Ocean, the diet of birds on Funk Island seems to be most similar to those from Iceland, and least resemble those from Shetland. Long-term studies of the feeding ecology on northern fulmars may be helpful in discerning factors influencing changes in the species' distribution and abundance.