Offshore surprises: New at-sea bird records for Suriname (2013-2015)

Abstract

Bird observations were collected from various types of survey vessels in Suriname’s territorial waters between 2013 and 2015. Dedicated, effort-related surveys were carried out from geophysical seismic survey vessels within an area located 80–110 km offshore (in 2013) and 165–290 km (in 2015). Opportunistic observations were recorded during fisheries surveys on a shrimp trawler operating along the 30 m depth contour, approximately 40–60 km offshore (in 2014). In total, 10 bird (sub-) species were observed during these surveys that previously were not recorded for Suriname, including Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus, Ruff Calidris pugnax, South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki, Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus, Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis (ssp. acuflavidus), Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii, Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus, Black Noddy Anous minutus, Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea and Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia. In addition, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus and Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were photographed for the first time in Suriname. A Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea was recorded just outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and therefore does not count as a new country record. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the avifauna frequenting the waters off Suriname, which historically has been poorly studied. Most of the species reported here are migratory. The timing of our sightings therefore also helps in a better understanding of their at sea distribution and migration patterns.