Olfactory nest recognition by British storm-petrel chicks

Precocial or semi-precocial chicks of underground-nesting seabirds are able to explore the immediate confines of the nest site. Therefore, the development of a cognitive ability that allows chicks of colonial seabirds to return to their own nest during the nestling period may be necessary if contact between young and parents is maintained simply by strong nest-site attachment. In Procellariiformes olfaction may play an important role in navigation of adults to colony sites and nesting burrows. A series of experiments with British storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus, nestlings suggested that they also possess an olfactory homing ability and that they are capable of nest recognition a few days after brooding ceases. As there is apparently no parent-offspring recognition in this species, and adults direct care towards any young that stays in its nest, the ability of chicks to recognize their own nests by smell is likely to be selected for. (C) 1997 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.