This Great Shearwater is just one of the many seabirds rescued by Wild Care Cape Cod after the Nor’easter a couple of weeks ago. (Click on blog link for other photos.)

“The Great Shearwater is a common seabird off our Atlantic Coast, seldom coming close to shore except during storms. Often forages in flocks. Commonly feeds around fishing boats, fighting over scraps and offal, seemingly fearless of humans. Although Great Shearwaters are often very numerous in North American waters, they nest only on a few islands in the South Atlantic.”

“This bird has the typically “shearing” flight of the genus, dipping from side to side on stiff wings with few wingbeats, the wingtips almost touching the water. Its flight is powerful and direct, with wings held stiff and straight.”

This was a first for us; we had never seen a Great Shearwater. It was so cool!

Visit the Wild Care Cape Cod Facebook page to follow some of these birds that got washed ashore and see how their stories turned out.