Moonless Skies, Tiny Flyers: A Night with Storm Petrels

By Sabiya Sheikh

On a calm, moonless night, I found myself heading to Land’s End, at the southwestern tip of England, for an exciting adventure: ringing European storm petrels. These tiny seabirds, members of the petrel family, only come to the UK during the summer months to nest and raise their chicks, making this a rare and special opportunity.

Bird ringing is more than just placing a ring on a bird’s leg—it’s a window into their incredible lives. By marking individual birds, we can uncover their migration routes, track their return to breeding sites, and even determine their age through re-trapping. For storm petrels, whose oceanic journeys take them as far as Western Africa, ringing is invaluable for understanding their lives and ensuring their conservation.

Storm petrels are nocturnal and prefer the cover of darkness for their safety. A new moon night offers the perfect conditions: low visibility reduces the threat of avian predators, making it an ideal time to ring these elusive birds. At 11 p.m., our group arrived at Land’s End, the night calm yet alive with sound. As we set up our mist nets and a small ringing station, we could hear other seabirds, like Manx shearwaters in the distance. With the nets ready, we placed a speaker playing recordings of storm petrel calls—an irresistible lure for these tiny ocean wanderers. Then, we waited.

It didn’t take long. Within minutes, the first storm petrel was caught in the mist net. This was my second time ringing storm petrels, yet their small size and sheer resilience still left me in awe of them. Holding one in my hands, I was struck again by the wonder of how such a small creature could navigate vast oceans.

The night passed in a blur of activity. We processed around 40 storm petrels. Each bird was as mesmerizing as the first, a testament to the marvels of nature. It wasn’t until 2 a.m., after hours of exhilarating work and with a long drive ahead, that we reluctantly called it a night.

This experience remains one of the most extraordinary of my life. The chance to witness these incredible birds up close is something I am eternally grateful for.

All ringing activities were carried out under the careful supervision of a licensed trainer, ensuring the safety and well-being of these remarkable birds.