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Why do storm petrels usually visit breeding colonies at night?
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Procellariiform
Black-browed albatross (Diomedea melanophris).
Storm petrels visit their breeding colonies at night primarily to avoid potential predators. By arriving and departing under the cover of darkness, these birds remain rarely seen by humans and other threats.1
This nocturnal behavior is common among many burrowing procellariiforms, which often meet on land only at night. Because they are active in the dark, these birds rely on vocalizations, touch, and possibly smell for mate recognition rather than visual cues.2