黑龙江嫩江高峰林区鸟类环志监测报告

1998～2006年,笔者在黑龙江省嫩江县高峰林场开展了鸟类环志研究工作。这里是候鸟经松嫩平原迁徙途中重要的停歇地和食物补给站。9年共环志鸟类13目37科165种184273只,其中春季135种80366只,秋季140种103907只。环志最多年份为2002年,44633只。环志数量最多的种类是白腰朱顶雀Cardueli sflammea,272日3只,其次是黄雀C.spinus,20163只。在所环志的鸟类中,春季以小鹀Emberiza pusilla、红胁蓝尾鸲Tarsiger cyanurus、黄眉柳莺Phyllosco pusinornatus、栗鹀E.rutila、田鹀E.rustica、黄眉鹀E.chrysophrys、燕雀Fringilla montifringilla、黄雀等8种为优势种:秋季以白腰朱顶雀、黄雀、田鹀、黄眉柳莺、燕雀、北朱雀Carpodacusroseus等6种为优势种,占秋季环志数量的69.3%。系统的环志监测,为深入开展鸟类环志研究,探索鸟类迁徙规律,以及进行鸟类疫情监测提供更为可靠的数据。     

秦皇岛黄胸鹀和蓝歌鸲的种群动态及迁徙时序——基于1999—2019年的环志数据

鸟类环志是种群监测和迁徙研究的重要手段。基于秦皇岛鸟类环志站1999 ~ 2019年的环志数据,对黄胸鹀（Emberiza aureola）和蓝歌鸲（Larvivora cyane）两种鸟类在21年间的种群动态和迁徙时序进行了分析。结果表明,迁徙途经秦皇岛的黄胸鹀种群数量以4或5年为周期呈规律性的波动下降,年均降幅达17.3%,21年间种群数量累计下降了97.7%。近年来我国加强了对黄胸鹀及其栖息地的保护管理,并于2021年初将其列为国家I级重点保护动物,有望促进其种群的逐步恢复。蓝歌鸲种群数量的年均降幅为4.2%,但下降过程主要集中在1999至2003年间,其后种群指数趋于稳定。黄胸鹀春季网捕高峰短暂而集中,持续约15 d;秋季网捕高峰则较为分散,持续约47 d。这表明黄胸鹀春季迁徙进程明显较为集中和快速,可能是出于繁殖需求采取了时间最短的迁徙策略。蓝歌鸲成年雄鸟、成年雌鸟和亚成鸟春季的网捕高峰在日期上有明显的差异,间隔4或5 d先后出现,表明蓝歌鸲不同年龄和性别的个体在春季进行差别迁徙,有利于减小停歇地的种内竞争,并确保雄鸟提前到达繁殖地占领优质的繁殖领域。     

嫩江高峰林区鸟类迁徙与气象因子的相关性初探

2001～2010年在黑龙江省嫩江县高峰林场开展了鸟类环志研究工作,共环志鸟类173种238672只,其中春季142种102285只,秋季147种136387只,隶属14目41科。春季以小鹀Emberiza pusilla、红胁蓝尾鸲Tar-siger cyanurus、黄眉柳莺Phylloscopus inornatus、栗鹀E.rutila、黄眉鹀E.chrysophrys、燕雀Fringilla montifringilla、田鹀E.rustica、黄雀Carduelis spinus等8种为迁徙鸟类的优势种,累计75145只,占春季环志数量的73.5%;秋季以白腰朱顶雀Carduelis flammea、黄雀、田鹀、燕雀、黄眉柳莺、煤山雀Parus ater、北朱雀Carpodacus roseus等7种为迁徙鸟类的优势种,累计99335只,占秋季环志数量的72.8%。利用统计软件对气象因子中的平均气温、日最高气温、日最低气温、平均水汽压、日最低气压、日最高气压、相对湿度、地面平均温度、平均风速、最大风速、最大风速的风向、日照时数与春秋季迁徙鸟类的优势种的相关性进行了分析,发现地面平均温度、日最高气温与鸟类迁徙的相关性很强。在春季,与鸟类迁徙的相关性很强的还有日最高气压,而秋季则是日照时数。相对湿度在鸟类迁徙中呈很强的负相关。     

吉林珲春2002～2005年鸟类环志监测报告

2002～2005年在吉林省珲春市马川子乡依力南沟开展了鸟类环志研究工作。这里为长白山低山丘陵区,是候鸟经长白山脉、乌苏里江迁徙途中重要的停歇地和食物补给站。4年共环志鸟类126种63386只,其中春季103种9761只,秋季113种53625只,隶属13目37科。春季以黄喉鸦（Emberiza elegans）为迁徙鸟类的优势种,环志2467只,占春季环志数量的25．3％;秋季以黄喉鸦、红胁蓝尾鸲（Tarsiger cyanurus）、黄眉柳莺（Phylloscopus inornatus）、大山雀（Parus major）、白眉鸦（E.tristrami）、极北柳莺（P.borealis）等6种为迁徙鸟类的优势种,累计33586只,占秋季环志数量的62．6％;通过环志研究发现,被认为是留鸟的大山雀、银喉长尾山雀（Aeghhalos caudatus）、沼泽山雀（P.palustris）、长尾雀（Uragus sibiricus）具有定期的迁徙行为。     

沈阳桃仙国际机场鸟类夜间迁徙规律

在鸟类迁徙季节,夜间鸟击事故频发是机场鸟击发生的一个显著特点.了解鸟类的夜间迁徙规律对于改进夜间鸟击防范措施具有重要的指导意义.本研究综合采用网捕法和声音记录法对沈阳桃仙机场夜间鸟类迁徙物种组成和迁徙规律进行研究.结果表明: 56种鸟类(占比88.9%)具有夜间迁徙习性,且以后半夜迁徙为主;鸟类夜间迁徙具有明显的时间动态和迁徙次序,春季鸟类迁徙较为集中,迁徙高峰在5月中旬,主要鸟类由鹌鹑、红尾伯劳、栗耳鹀、黑喉石鵖、普通夜鹰、黄眉柳莺等组成,秋季迁徙较为分散,迁徙高峰出现在9月下旬至10月上旬,主要由鹌鹑、灰背鸫、红喉鹨、丘鹬、矛斑蝗莺和灰头鵐等组成.对夜间迁徙鸟类的危险等级评估发现,春季严重危险物种是鹌鹑和红尾伯劳,秋季严重危险物种是鹌鹑、纵纹腹小鸮、灰背鸫和丘鹬.分别从夜间迁徙鸟类组成、迁徙动态、时间节律和物种危险等级等角度提出了相应的鸟击防范对策,为桃仙机场鸟击防范提供参考.     

黑龙江省嫩江高峰林区2004年度鸟类环志监测报告

2004年在黑龙江省嫩江县高峰林场开展了鸟类环志研究工作,共环志鸟类100种22 194只,其中春季84种10 256只,秋季82种11 938只,隶属10目30科。春季以棕眉山岩鹨(Prunella montanella)、田(Emberiza rustica)、红胁蓝尾鸲(Tarsiger cyanurus)、燕雀(Fringilla montifringilla)、小(E.pusilla)、黄眉柳莺(Phylloscopus inornatus)、栗(E.rutila)等7种为迁徙鸟类的优势种(数量大于500只),环志7534只,占春季环志数量的73.5%;秋季以黄眉柳莺、燕雀、田、银喉长尾山雀(Aegithalos caudatus)、黄雀(Carduelis spinus)、白腰朱顶雀(C.flammea)等6种为迁徙鸟类的优势种,环志8764只,占秋季环志数量的73.4%;通过环志,发现两种黑龙江省鸟类新记录———姬鹬(Lymnocryptes minimus)、棕眉柳莺(P.armandi-i),高峰林场环志的白腰朱顶雀、红喉姬(Ficedula parva)分别被挪威、俄罗斯回收。这是欧洲国家...     

扎龙国家自然保护区6种雀形目鸟类血液蛋白的遗传多态性

采用SDS-聚丙烯酰氨凝胶电泳法,对扎龙自然保护区6种雀形目鸟类(黄喉鹀、黄眉柳莺、黄胸鹀、虎纹伯劳、麻雀和灰头鹀)的4个血液蛋白位点［血红蛋白(Hb)、白蛋白（Alb）、转铁蛋白（Tf）和腺苷脱氨酶（Ada）］进行了多态性检测.结果表明：研究区6种鸟类在这4个血液蛋白位点上均存在多态性,这6种鸟在Ada座位上均表现出较大的遗传变异性;黄眉柳莺的群体遗传变异较大,灰头鹀的群体稳定性相对较高;这6种鸟可划分为两大类,黄喉鹀、黄胸鹀、灰头鹀和黄眉柳莺聚为一大类,麻雀和虎纹伯劳聚为另一类,这与6种雀形目鸟类的实际分类地位基本相符;研究区较高的体温调节价和取食压力并未导致6种鸟类血液蛋白的遗传结构产生较大变异,可能是由于该地区雀形目鸟类与外界存在一定的基因交流,从而缩减了其群体遗传上的变异和分化.     

中国侯鸟环志的研究

环志是研究鸟类迁徙最简单有效的科学方法。中国从１９８２年开始建立全国鸟类环志中心以来,在林业部的领导下至１９９０年先后建立了候鸟环志站、点６０处,共计环志了候鸟１８６种６２７５５只,同期回收到国内外环志鸟４１３只。回收环志鸟提供了东亚地区候鸟迁徙的宝贵信息,证实了：１．候鸟迁徙可自喜马拉雅山脉飞越;２．中国候鸟迁徙路线和推论是正确的;３．中国东北繁殖的白枕鹤飞往日本九洲南部越冬,丹顶鹤等迁往东部沿海、长江中下游几处湿地越冬,与来自俄罗斯西伯利亚的部分鹤在相同地区越冬;４．某些鸟种迁徙路线在与日本同种候鸟迁徙路线比较后,表明在西太平洋地区,通过中国和日本存在着两条平行的自南向北迁徙的路线。其他信息也指出了更多的情况,同时也表明中国环志研究在西太平洋迁徙候鸟研究中处于关键性的地位。     

中国东北地区基于环志监测的田鹀迁徙趋势和数量动态北大核心CSCD

许多长距离迁徙的雀形目鸟类的种群数量正在持续下降,田鹀(Emberiza rustica)种群数量下降趋势更为突出。通过对田鹀种群数量长期监测和迁徙动态分析,可为此物种保护提供科学依据。从2001年开始,陆续在黑龙江省高峰、青峰、帽儿山、新青和大沾河,吉林省珲春和吉林市,辽宁省的辽宁鸟类研究中心(大连)和旅顺老铁山,以及内蒙古乌尔其汗鸟类栖息的临水林缘处布网环志。截至2018年,累计环志田鹀184181只,其中春季88571只,秋季95610只;各年度环志数量波动较大,总体呈现急速下降趋势。幼鸟的越冬损失率高达41.3%。田鹀106只次的回收信息表明,自然条件下田鹀寿命可达11年以上;日迁飞距离最快可达到300 km,飞行速度可达30 km/h。中国东北地区是田鹀等鸟类的重要迁徙途经地;田鹀的迁徙路线相对稳定,在瑞典北部繁殖的种群经中国东北地区迁徙到天津以南越冬。通过环志发现,近些年田鹀种群数量急速下降。通过比对,发现中国东北地区田鹀的环志数量变化趋势与瑞典的田鹀环志数量变化趋势相似;相对于环志数量最多的年份,环志数量下降95%以上,值得关注。栖息地破碎化、非法猎捕等是影响田鹀生存的主要受威胁因素。建议依据田鹀等鸟类生物学习性,加强鸟类栖息地的保护,坚持长期标准化的鸟类环志监测,进一步探索鸟类迁徙规律,以助于鸟类种群的恢复。     

中国候鸟环志的研究

环志是研究鸟类迁徙最简单有效的科学方法。中国从1982年开始建立全国鸟类环志中心以来,在林业部的领导下至 1990年先后建立了候鸟环志站、点 60处,共计环志了候鸟 186种 62 755只,同期回收 到国内外环志鸟413只。回收环志鸟提供了东亚地区候鸟迁徙的宝贵信息,证实了：1．候鸟迁徙可自喜马拉雅山脉飞越;2．中国候鸟迁徙路线和推论是正确的;3．中国东北繁殖的白枕鹤飞往日本九洲南部越冬,丹顶鹤等迁往东部沿海、长江中下游几处湿地越冬,与来自俄罗斯西伯利亚的部分鹤在相同地区越冬;4.某些鸟种迁徙路线在与日本同种候鸟迁徙路线比较后,表明在西太平洋地区,通过中国和日本存在着两条平行的自南向北迁徙的路线。其他信息也指出了更多的情况,同时也表明中国环志研究在西太平洋迁徙候鸟研究中处于关键性的地位。     

Relationship between arrival timing and breeding success of intra‐tropical migratory Fork‐tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus savana)

For migratory birds, early arrival at breeding areas has many benefits, such as acquisition of better territories and mates. This strategy has been found in numerous species breeding at north‐temperate latitudes, but has not been yet reported for intra‐tropical migratory species. We evaluated the relationship between arrival date, initiation of breeding, and breeding success of Fork‐tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus savana) breeding in southeastern Brazil and overwintering in northern South America. We color‐banded adult flycatchers during three breeding seasons and searched for them during the following breeding seasons. We also monitored nests from construction until either failure or fledging of young. We found that: (1) male Fork‐tailed Flycatchers arrived at the breeding site earlier than females, (2) males that arrived earlier had greater breeding success, and (3) nests where eggs were laid earlier in the breeding season were more likely to be successful than those where eggs were laid later. Male Fork‐tailed Flycatchers appeared to benefit from early arrival at a tropical breeding site, potentially mediated by their ability to acquire a high‐quality territory and mate as early as possible, and by the ability of their mate to begin breeding as early as possible. Breeding success for female Fork‐tailed Flycatchers may be determined primarily by a combination of the arrival date of their mate and how quickly they can begin breeding. Our results suggest that protandry occurs in an intra‐tropical migratory bird and that early arrival of males and early initiation of reproduction by females results in greater reproductive success. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that control the timing of migration and reproduction of this and other intra‐tropical migratory species is important for evaluating the challenges they face in light of current and future rapid environmental changes.     

Effect of global warming on the timing of migration and breeding of passerine birds in the 20th century

Long-term monitoring of the dates of arrival, breeding, and autumn migration in 25 passerine bird species on the Kurshskaya (Courland) Spit, the Baltic Sea, has shown that spring migration and nesting in most species wintering in Europe or Africa have shifted to earlier dates in the past two decades, whereas the dates of autumn migration in most species studied have not changed significantly. In 16 bird species, a significant negative correlation of the timing of arrival and breeding with the average spring air temperature and the North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAO) in February and March was revealed. In years with early and warm springs, birds arrived at the spit and nested considerably earlier than in years with cold springs. The dates of autumn migration in most species studied largely depended on the timing of nesting but not on weather conditions in autumn. The data obtained indicate that the main factor responsible for long-term changes in the timing of arrival, nesting, and autumn migrations of passerine birds in the Baltic Region is climate fluctuations that led to considerable changes in thermal conditions in the Northern Hemisphere in the 20th century. The hypothesis is proposed that recent climate warming has caused changes in the timing of not only the arrival of birds in Europe but also of their spring migrations from Africa. Further changes in the dates of passerine bird arrival and breeding in the Palearctic in subsequent years will largely depend on the dynamics of winter and spring air temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, whereas the timing of autumn migrations will be determined mainly by the dates of their arrival and nesting.     

Climate change and the optimal arrival of migratory birds

Recent climate change has sparked an interest in the timing of biological events, which is a general problem in life-history evolution. Reproduction in many organisms breeding in seasonal environments, e.g. migratory birds, is dependent on the exploitation of a short but rich food supply. If the seasonal timing of the food peak advances owing to climate change, then one would expect the bird to track those changes, hence, initiate migration and breeding earlier. However, when there is competition for territories and a risk of pre-breeding mortality, the optimal response to a shifting food distribution is no longer obvious. We develop a theoretical model to study how the optimal arrival time depends on the mean and variance of the food distribution, the degree of competition for territories and the risk of mortality. In general, the optimal shift in arrival date should never be as extreme as the shift in food peak date. Our results also show that we should expect the high variation of trends in arrival date observed among migratory birds, even if migration and information about climate change were unconstrained.     

Spring arrival of birds depends on the North Atlantic Oscillation

The timing of arrival of 81 migratory species in response to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was studied at two Finnish bird observatories (1970–99). Timing was determined for the first migrants and for the peak of migration, as well as for the early, median and late phases of migration, defined as the dates when the seasonal cumulative sum of birds reached 5%, 50% and 95%, respectively. For most species, the timing of arrival correlated negatively with the NAO in all phases of migration: the correlation was significant for 79% of species studied. Thus, most species arrived in Finland early when the NAO was positive and indicative of mild and rainy winters in northern Europe. Although all phases of migration correlated negatively with the NAO, the correlations were more negative for the early than for the late phases of migration. Since the NAO did not show a significant trend during the study period, the correlations indicate that the timing of birds followed stochastic fluctuations in the NAO. This finding suggests that most Finnish migratory birds are able to adjust the timing of spring arrival in response to climatic change without time delay.     

Long‐term changes in the migration phenology of UK breeding birds detected by large‐scale citizen science recording schemes

The timing of migration is one of the key life‐history parameters of migratory birds. It is expected to be under strong selection, to be sensitive to changing environmental conditions and to have implications for population dynamics. However, most phenological studies do not describe arrival and departure phenologies for a species in a way that is robust to potential biases, or that can be clearly related to breeding populations. This hampers our ability to understand more fully how climate change may affect species’ migratory strategies, their life histories and ultimately their population dynamics. Using generalized additive models (GAMs) and extensive large‐scale data collected in the UK over a 40‐year period, we present standardized measures of migration phenology for common migratory birds, and examine how the phenology of bird migration has changed in the UK since the 1960s. Arrival dates for 11 of 14 common migrants became significantly earlier, with six species advancing their arrival by more than 10 days. These comprised two species, Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla and Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, which winter closest to Britain in southern Europe and the arid northern zone of Africa, Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, which winters in the arid zone, and three hirundines (Sand Martin Riparia riparia, House Martin Delichon urbicum and Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica), which winter in different parts of Africa. Concurrently, departure dates became significantly later for four of the 14 species and included species that winter in southern Europe (Blackcap and Chiffchaff) and in humid zones of Africa (Garden Warbler Sylvia borin and Whinchat Saxicola rubetra). Common Swift Apus apus was the exception in departing significantly earlier. The net result of earlier arrival and later departure for most species was that length of stay has become significantly longer for nine of the 14 species. Species that have advanced their timing of arrival showed the most positive trends in abundance, in accordance with previous studies. Related in part to earlier arrival and the relationship above, we also show that species extending their stay in Great Britain have shown the most positive trends. Further applications of our modelling approach will provide opportunities for more robust tests of relationships between phenological change and population dynamics than have been possible previously.     

Travel schedules to the high arctic: barnacle geese trade-off the timing of migration with accumulation of fat deposits

On their way from the wintering area to the breeding grounds in Spitsbergen, barnacle geese Branta leucopsis stage on islands off the coast of Norway. The aim of this study was to describe when the geese migrate in relation to the body stores deposited and explore questions related to the concept of optimal migration schedules and on the possible mechanisms involved. We estimated fat stores by repeated assessments of the abdominal profile index of individually marked females throughout staging. Reproductive success was derived from observations of the same individuals later in the annual cycle. Females arriving late, or with low fat stores at arrival, achieved higher fat deposition rates, probably by spending more time foraging. But they were unable to match final fat scores of birds that arrived earlier or with larger fat stores. Reproductive success was correlated with the timing of migration and individuals departing at intermediate dates achieved highest success. The exact date of peak reproductive success depended on the size of fat stores accumulated, such that low-quality birds (depositing less fat) benefited most from an early departure to the breeding grounds. Observations in the breeding colonies showed that these birds did not initiate a nest earlier but they spent a longer time in Spitsbergen before settling. The length of stay in Norway was close to the prediction derived from an optimisation model relating spring events to eventual breeding success. Poorest performing birds stayed longer than expected, perhaps depositing more fat to avoid the risk of starvation. Two possible mechanisms of the timing of migration were contrasted and it seemed that the geese departed for migration as soon as they were unable to accumulate any more fat stores.     

Protandrous migration and variation in morphological characters in Emberiza buntings at an East Asian stopover site

The effect of the timing of spring migration on reproductive success differs between the sexes. As a consequence, various sex‐specific tactics relating to the timing of migration have evolved in migratory avian groups. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain differential migration to breeding or wintering grounds, and inter‐ and intrasexual size differences are often considered one of the proximate mechanisms. We investigated arrival patterns in the spring by individuals of each sex, sexual size dimorphism and related morphological variables, and the relationship between size variation and arrival date in five bunting species that passed through an East Asian migratory flyway stopover site in 2006–08. Males of all the study species arrived before females, and significant sexual dimorphism was observed. Several morphological characters, including total length, wing‐length and tail‐length, contributed to the size variation. Although larger males arrived earlier, there was no relationship between arrival date and size in females. Our study confirmed that East Asian buntings display a discriminated protandrous migration pattern at the stopover site as well as at the breeding grounds. This is consistent with the view that larger body size in males is favoured due to its association with early arrival to help ensure access to the best resources and hence enhanced mating success.     

Interactions between a Candidate Gene for Migration (ADCYAP1), Morphology and Sex Predict Spring Arrival in Blackcap Populations

Avian research has begun to reveal associations between candidate genes and migratory behaviors of captive birds, yet few studies utilize genotypic, morphometric, and phenological data from wild individuals. Previous studies have identified an association between ADCYAP1 polymorphism and autumn migratory behavior (restlessness, or zugunruhe), but little is known about the relationship between ADCYAP1 and spring migratory behavior. The timing of spring migration and arrival to the breeding ground are phenological traits which could be particularly favorable for establishing territories and acquiring mates, thus important to fitness and reproductive success. Here, we investigated how individual genotypic ADCYAP1 variation and phenotypic variation (wing length and shape) of blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) affect spring arrival date across nine natural populations in Europe. We hypothesized that longer alleles should be associated with earlier spring arrival dates and expected the effect on arrival date to be stronger for males as they arrive earlier. However, we found that longer wings were associated with earlier spring arrival to the breeding grounds for females, but not for males. Another female-specific effect indicated an interaction between ADCYAP1 allele size and wing pointedness on the response of spring arrival: greater allele size had a positive effect on spring arrival date for females with rounder wings, while a negative effect was apparent for females with more pointed wings. Also, female heterozygotes with pointed wing tips arrived significantly earlier than both homozygotes with pointed wings and heterozygotes with round wings. Stable isotope ratios (δ ² H) of a subset of blackcaps captured in Freiburg in 2011 allowed us also to assign individuals to their main overwintering areas in northwest (NW) and southwest (SW) Europe. NW males arrived significantly earlier to the Freiburg breeding site than both SW males and females in 2011. NW females had more pointed wing tips compared to SW females, but no difference in ADCYAP1 allele size was found between the different migration routes.     

Temperature‐related increases in grass growth and greater competition for food drive earlier migrational departure of wintering Whooper Swans

Understanding the departure decisions of migratory birds is critical for determining how changing climatic conditions will influence subsequent arrival times on the breeding grounds. A long‐term dataset (1972–2008) of Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus departure dates from a wintering site in Ireland was used to assess the factors determining the timing of migration. Early and late migrating swans showed different departure patterns. Earlier wintering ground departure was more pronounced for the first 50% of the population than the last 10% of departing individuals. Earlier departure was associated with an increase in February temperatures at the wintering site for all departure phases except the date when the last individual departed. The date by which the first 50% of Swans had departed was earlier with increasing numbers of wintering Swans, suggesting that competition on the wintering grounds may further influence the timing of departure. The results also suggested that departure is mediated by the influence of spring temperature on food resources, with increased February grass growth in warmer years enabling earlier departure of migrating Swans. To determine why arrival dates in the breeding ground have altered, environmental conditions in the wintering grounds must be taken into account.     

Overland movement and migration phenology in relation to breeding of Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea

It is often implicitly assumed that seabirds migrate using marine environments, but this assumption is increasingly being challenged by electronic tracking data. The arrival and departure routes of Arctic Terns breeding on the North Sea coast of the United Kingdom (UK) are unknown but there has been speculation about the possibility of overland migration. Analysis of light-level geolocator data from birds breeding on the Farne Islands suggests that these birds arrived and left their North Sea colony overland via the Irish Sea, rather than taking coastal routes along the east coast of the UK and through the English Channel. In addition, some departing birds may enter the North Atlantic by crossing Ireland rather than through the Irish Sea. The direction of arrival in spring had a more southerly orientation than the direction of autumn departure. The geolocator data allow migration phenology in relation to breeding to be defined and indicated that the birds arrived around 15 days before the first eggs were laid in the colony. Departure timing may be determined by seasonal progression and not markedly influenced by breeding success. This study supports the idea that overland migration may be a more widespread and consistent strategy for seabirds than has been realized.