By Steve
DuffyBBC News
24 August
2018
They are
arguably one of Wales' most extraordinary and important birds - but you have to
go out at night for the best chance to see them.
Skomer
Island off the Pembrokeshire coast is home to half the world's population of
Manx shearwater.
More than
300,000 pairs of the birds breed on the colony - but can only return to feed
their chicks under the cover of darkness.
Researchers
have completed a latest census of the population.
It is
hoped in the coming weeks conservationists will know whether the birds are
still doing well in terms of numbers.
Scientists
from Oxford University are also involved in a long-running project. And using
tiny logging devices on the birds, they're hoping to learn more about the birds
and their behaviour.
Why are
they special?
The
shearwater migrates every year 7,000 miles (11,200km) to the coast of South
America - spending our winter feeding at sea - but returns, often to the same
part of the island and sometimes to the same burrow, to breed again in the
spring
New
research suggests they
may use a "sun compass" to help them navigate back to Skomer.
Although
it lays only one egg a year, shearwater can have long lives and breed for many
years. The longest living was recorded at over 50 years of age
Chicks
grow larger than their parents - before getting to "flight weight" to
make their first, solo journey to South America - before returning to Skomer as
adults
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