European Storm-petrel

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The European storm petrel is a member of the northern storm petrel species; it is a small, square-tailed bird that is entirely black except for a broad, white rump and a white band on the under wings, and it flutters in a bat-like manner.

They are entirely pelagic, coming to land only to procreate. Most species' behavior and distribution at sea are unknown, making them difficult to discover and identify. When the chick is fed, the food is transformed in its stomach into an oily orange liquid that is regurgitated. The storm petrel has a chattering call that is made by both members of a pair during their courtship flight, despite the fact that they are often silent at sea. The breeding chamber emits a purring melody for the male.

Its presence in inclement weather at sea has given rise to superstitions among different seamen, and by extension, revolutionary and anarchist movements have used it as a symbol. For mariners, the storm petrel is a bird of bad omen because of its affinity with storms; it is believed to either predict or produce severe weather. Their appearance in bad weather can be explained more simply by the fact that, like the majority of oceanic seabirds, they are dependent on the winds for flight assistance and just sit on the water's surface when it's calm. Killing a petrel was considered unlucky, and the birds were sometimes considered the souls of sailors who had died. The most popular of the folk names is Mother Carey's chicken, which has been used for storm petrels in general in the UK and North America since at least 1767. The petrel's reputation led to the old moniker of witch.

This is believed to be a corruption of mater cara (dear mother, the Virgin Mary), a reference to the supernatural Mother Carey, or a superstitious modification of an earlier Mother Mary's chicken/bird to reduce the potency of the religious name.

In Rapunzel's universe, storm petrels are able to spit forth globules of water and oil mucus at their adversaries. The mucus reduces the rate at which stamina recovers by inflicting Waterblight on adversaries.

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These smallest of seabirds subsist on planktonic crustaceans and small fish taken up from the surface, usually while hovering. Their flight is fluttery and occasionally bat-like.

The storm petrel lays a single white egg, typically on bare earth, and nests in burrows and cracks that are occasionally shared with other seabirds or rabbits. The chick, which is not typically brooded after the first week, is fed by both adults during the protracted incubation period. Strongly migratory, this species spends the winter in the Northern Hemisphere primarily off the shores of Namibia and South Africa. Some birds also stop in the waters that border West Africa, while some stay close to their breeding islands in the Mediterranean. Outside of the breeding season, this petrel is exclusively oceanic.

Reproduction

• Breed on remote rocky islands and coastal cliffs. 

• Nest in crevices, burrows, under stones or rock fissures. 

• Monogamous pairs often reuse the same nest site annually. 

• One white egg is laid; both parents share incubation (about ~40 days) and feeding duties. 

• Chicks fledge after ~56–86 days.

At breeding colonies, storm petrels spend much of their time at night, perhaps to avoid predators. They are frequently spotted in tiny feeding groups while at sea, flying low over the water. At breeding grounds, they are vocal, making chattering and purring sounds. Closely interacting with storm petrels is uncommon because they are not tame and typically avoid people.soon

Threats

• Introduced predators (rats, cats).

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation Efforts

• Habitat protection.

• Anti-poaching enforcement.

• Rescue and rehabilitation centers.

• Awareness campaigns against illegal pet trade.

The northern storm petrels are found in the Northern Hemisphere, although some species around the Equator dip into the south. 

• Movement Pattern: Full Migrant

• Individual Type: Random

• Population Trend: Unknown

• Population: 430,000-519,999

• Locomotion: Versatile

• Habitat: Polar; Tundra; Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Sky; Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Subterranean River; Warm Pond; Cold Pond; Aquifer; Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Volcano; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): France; Greece; Italy; Mauritania; Morocco; Spain; United Kingdom

  • Extant (Breeding): Faroe Islands; Germany; Iceland; Ireland; Malta; North Macedonia; Norway; Spain (Canary Is.)

  • Extant (Non-breeding): Gibraltar; Portugal

  • Extant (Passage): Denmark

  • Extant & Vagrant (Non-breeding): Lebanon

  • Extant & Vagrant: Algeria; Austria; Belgium; Cyprus; Czechia; Côte d'Ivoire; Ghana; Guinea; Israel; Libya; Poland; Russia (European Russia); Sierra Leone; Svalbard and Jan Mayen; Sweden; Switzerland; Togo; Tunisia; Türkiye; Ukraine

  • Extant & Origin Uncertain: Sao Tome and Principe

• Berbania/Hirawhassa: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

• Reinachos/Ityosel: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

Storm petrels are not appropriate pets in our universe. In many areas, wild pelagic seabirds are protected due to their complicated ecological needs. Their extensive flight ranges and need for open ocean conditions make them unfeasible in captivity. Because of regulations protecting wildlife, keeping them is prohibited in many jurisdictions.

Because the survivor is always within 19 radii of the hatching egg, storm petrels in Rapunzel's universe are tamed as soon as they hatch from an egg. You can use fish eggs or flesh to tame this bird if it isn't already. 

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Past and Present Incidents - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a 

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

The Recollections of Queen Arianna - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

See also: none

• Coming soon

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• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_storm_petrel

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22698477/132650209

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/European-Storm-Petrel-1116106571