Streaked Shearwater

Streaked Shearwater

The Japanese species of streaked shearwater ( Calonectris leucomelas ) are seabirds with an unusual talent for tree climbing. These birds nest in holes on the ground. Their legs are placed far back on their bodies. This does not help in moving about on ground but good for water. In the night, on small offshore islands in Japan, these streaked shearwater wait in line for their turn to climb up chestnut trees down the slope, with thick hollow trunks. They do so, inch by inch, pushing up with their legs & wings.

Occasionally, some might fall into a hole a few feet up on the trunk & drop down the interior to the bottom. But this discourages them in no way & they scramble out & join the queueto await their turn & try all over again.

Once they reach to a height of about 20 feet from ground, they look towards the sea thru the canopy & launch themselves forward into the air & set off to the sea to fish.

This unusual habit has enabled this Japanese species to extend its nesting sites farther away from the sea than other shearwater species which mostly nest on cliffs where they can easily reach the edge.