How shearwaters prey. New insights in foraging behaviour and marine foraging associations using bird-borne video cameras

Abstract Conventional bio-logging techniques used for ethological studies of seabirds have their limitations when studying detailed behaviours at sea. This study uses animal-borne video cameras to reveal fine-scale behaviours, associations with conspecifics and other species interactions fishery vessels during foraging a Mediterranean seabird. The was conducted on Scopoli's shearwaters ( Calonectris diomedea ) breeding in Linosa island (35°51′33″ N; 12°51′34″ E) summer 2020. Foraging events were recorded from seabirds' view lightweight attached the birds' back. always occurred association shearwaters. Competitive between observed, frequency positively correlated number birds aggregation. Associations tunas sea turtles been frequent observations natural sites. During events, recordings allowed which would remained unnoticed conventional tracking devices. could be categorised by prey type into “natural prey” “fishery discards”. Analysis footage suggests behavioural differences two categories. Those suggest that effort discards consumption can vary, adds new arguments discussion about energy trade-offs choice strategy. These highlight importance combining technologies obtain complete picture at-sea seabirds, is essential understanding impact strategies seabird-fishery interactions. Graphical abstract