The Northern Fulmar’s (Fulmarus glacialis) flight is a marvel of natural engineering. Equipped with strong wings and a robust body, Fulmarus glacialis glides effortlessly on the gusts of wind that buffet the steep coastal cliffs. The Northern Fulmar is a remarkable seabird known for its exceptional ability to navigate the wild winds and turbulent air currents that characterize the rugged cliffs of the North Atlantic. This adept flier, with its distinctive tubenose, is a master of the skies, performing an aerial ballet that captivates both seasoned bird watchers and casual observers alike.
These birds are often seen soaring in wide, graceful arcs, making precise adjustments to their wing angles to maintain stability and direction. Their agility in the air is reminiscent of a well-rehearsed dance, a series of fluid, seemingly effortless movements perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of the wind.
Northern Fulmars are typically found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. They breed on cliffs and rocky islands, where the constant updrafts provide ideal conditions for their acrobatic flight. These birds are particularly prevalent in areas such as the coasts of Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and British Coasts. During the non-breeding season, they disperse widely across the northern oceans, often venturing far from land.
The Northern Fulmar possesses several unique adaptations that make it an expert flier. Its wings are long and narrow, allowing for efficient gliding with minimal energy expenditure. The bird’s musculature and skeletal structure are adapted for sustained flight, with powerful chest muscles and lightweight bones. Additionally, the fulmar’s tubenose, a structure on the upper beak, plays a crucial role in its navigation and olfactory capabilities, aiding in long-distance foraging over open seas.
The Northern Fulmar, a “tube-nosed” bird related to petrels and shearwaters, is abundant in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, too. Though few people ever see the species on land in those regions because it tends to be highly aggregated in a few remote breeding grounds. By contrast, Northern Fulmar in the boreal zone of the northeast Atlantic Ocean-Iceland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, the Faeroes, and the British Isles are ubiquitous because of a spectacular increase in their population and breeding distribution during the last 250 years. They even breed in Heligoland, the one and only off-shore island of Germany
The Northern Fulmar prefers precipitous sea cliffs of small to large islands or mainland promontories. It often occurs in mixed colonies with other cliff-breeders as we saw at the Cliffs of Moher. We spend ample time to observe and photograph the diverse bird species nesting on the cliffs and those swimming and fishing nearby. We were surrounded by thousands of Common Murres (Uria aalge), Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), and Razorbills (Alca torda), along with numerous Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) and Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus). Hundreds of birds floated serenely around the boat, adding to a noisy atmosphere.
Northern Fulmar differ to the other cliff-inhabitants by using upper, more densely vegetated portions of cliffs, canyons, and gullies with less severe slopes and greater soil accumulation. Wherever ground predators exist, breeding sites are usually restricted to inaccessible ledges of sheer cliffs
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