A study has found that several seabird species are being forced to fly longer distances to find food due to the melting of sea ice in Antarctica.

Researchers from Durham University and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) revealed that albatrosses and petrels breeding on nearby islands are likely affected by the shrinking ice.

The study analysed foraging data from seven bird species between 1992 and 2023, with findings published in Progress in Oceanography.

BAS previously reported that sea ice had reached record-low levels, an event they stated was “extremely unlikely” without the influence of climate change.

Sea ice forms in winter and melts during summer, creating nutrient-rich waters where these birds feed.

Albatrosses and petrels are known to fly vast distances across the Southern Ocean to feed on marine life or scavenge from seals on the ice.

The study used satellite data to track 1,289 birds from South Georgia, about 1,000 miles from Antarctica, monitoring 2,497 foraging trips over 31 years.

While sea ice was stable for much of the study period, it has plummeted to unprecedented levels in the past five years. In 2023, BAS reported 770,000 square miles less ice than the typical winter average.

The researchers highlighted the need for further investigation into the birds’ diets, how they interact with sea ice, and the effects during the breeding season.

The study also involved BirdLife International and universities from Spain, Finland, the U.S., and Portugal.

 

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