Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS

Distribution of Fulmars

Of the Pacific forms Rodgers's Fulmar (F. rodgersii), of which brief mention has already been made, is confined to Bering Sea and adjacent waters, while the Pacific Fulmar (F. g. glupischa) ranges from the North Pacific south along the American coast to Mexico. Anthony has given us a very entertaining account of the Fulmars of southern California, especially as they congregate on the fishing banks some miles off the coast.

The birds settle down within a few yards of the fishermen and when the line is hauled up after a successful sound they become greatly excited as the fish come into sight through the limpid water. It usually happens that one or more fish are detached and float to windward, only to be pounced upon and torn to pieces by the hungry Fulmars.”

Their confidence in mankind is at all times very great. I have several times seen them killed by fishermen, who had but to drop a small piece of fish overboard and hit the bird with a club when it swam up to get it.”

They were also taken by the hand and”when thrown upon the deck made no attempt to fly, but with outstretched wings hurried to the rail, over which they could just reach, and emptied the contents of their stomachs into the sea. Their actions were so like those of a seasick landsman that it was extremely laughable."

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