The Wake-up Call: Leach's Storm-Petrel

The sound of Leach's Storm-Petrels returning to their burrows under the cover of darkness is what you might expect to hear in a fairy tale. Like elves giggling in the distance.

Laura Tranquilla of Birds Canada, joins us to share what it's like to work with one of Canada's smallest and most mysterious seabirds. Leach's Storm-Petrels breed in colonies along Canada's Atlantic coast, but spends much of the daylight hours far out at sea. Like many shorebird species, their population is in decline, but the exact cause can be hard to pin point. We explore the complex challenges of protecting a species that we know little about.

Visit CPAWS to get involved with Puffin and Petrel Patrol in Newfoundland.

Laura has also written fantastic blogs on this species; learn about her annual trips to Baccalieu Island, read about the nitty gritty's of Storm-Petrel research, and dive into some of the best research papers.

Thirsty? Get some Bird Friendly Certified Coffee! 10% of your purchase from Birds and Beans goes towards supporting this podcast and bird conservation in Canada when you use this link.   
 
Dr. Laura McFarlane Tranquilla has devoted over 20 years to bird ecology, physiology, tracking, and conservation on the east and west coats of Canada. Currently, she is the Atlantic Director for Birds Canada, and works to build science-based collaborative partnerships and guide conservation programs for seabirds, owls, marsh birds, forest birds, and many more.  

Andrea Gress studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan and now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program for Birds Canada. Follow her work at @ontarioplovers

Andrés Jiménez is a Costa Rican wildlife biologist with a keen interest in snakes, frogs, birds and how human relationships are interconnected with the living world. He studied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica and has a Masters in Environmental Problem Solving from York University. Follow him at @andresjimo

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change is supported by funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of Birds Canada.