Publisher's Synopsis
The Petrels, or tubenosed birds, include the shearwaters, albatrosses and the storm, diving petrels, and gadfly petrel families. As a group, they enjoy worldwide distribution and often form an important component of the marine communities of which they are a part. The long distance migrations and colonial breeding habits of many of the species pose fascinating questions in biology and much can be learned from comparative work on species from different parts of the world. In this book, the author sets out the basics of petrel biology, drawing on both his own research and the range of published literature. The opening chapters summarize the biology of each family before going on to look in detail at comparative aspects of their breeding ecology. A companion volume, in preparation, will look in more detail at behaviour, physiology, population biology and food. This illustrated general introduction to the petrels offers a reference to both the scientific and the lay ornithologist.
