The Puffinus Ilherminieri baroli, or Frulho, is a seabird endemic to Macaronesia (a group of islands in the North Atlantic). Several authors believe that this name originates from “Azoreanisms”. It has recently been considered a subspecies of Puffinus baroli.
Description
The Frulho has a distinctive appearance, with the top of its body being quite dark, black in color, and the underside being white and grayish. Curiously, its legs have a blue color. Its size ranges from 28 to 30 centimeters in length and it can reach a weight of over 170 grams. With its wings spread out, the Frulho can reach more than 60 centimeters of wingspan (distance between the tips of the wings).
This species nests in the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries, usually on small uninhabited islets. Some known nests of this bird can be found in Santa Maria, on the islet of Vila, and in Graciosa, on the islet of Baixo and the islet of Praia, verifying about 50 couples in each of the islets mentioned. The Frulho also nests on cliffs on the main islands of the Azores archipelago, with the exception of Terceira.
The Frulho is a diving bird and can reach 15 meters of depth during its hunts.
The Frulho tends to nest in August, with the incubation period lasting about 45 days and the females lay only one egg.
History
It is believed that this species was introduced by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Due to the exploitation of the Frulho for oil, its population in the Azores suffered a decline.
Conservation status
Currently, it is considered a vulnerable species.
Despite this human persecution, the Frulho is more vulnerable to small mammals and rodents such as rats, ferrets and others, as well as birds of prey that attack its nesting sites.
