Fairy prions and other petrels return to their colonies each year to court and establish a nest site. They often mate with the same partner and use the same burrow year after year. Once the egg is laid they share incubation, taking turns to go to sea to feed. Depending on how far they need to travel to find food, these trips can take from one to seven days, or longer for some species. Meanwhile, the other parent fasts on the nest. Petrels are able to store energy, so their weight fluctuates as they fast, then feed.
Using this item
Department of Conservation
Reference:
10031381
Photograph by Rod Morris
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