storm petrel

With no terrestrial predators to steal their eggs, these islands are breeding sanctuaries for ground- and cliff-nesting seabirds like the western gull, Scripps’s murrelet and the ashy storm petrel.

To save storm petrels, VanderWerf said, scientists need to act before populations crash.

To save storm petrels, VanderWerf said, scientists need to act before populations have crashed.

The white-faced storm petrels at risk there were especially charismatic—they appear to walk on water—and easily gained public support.

The team also resighted a Leach's storm petrel banded there 31 years ago.