Foraging behaviour of Arctic, 
Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua on 
migration in the Red Sea 
Reuven Yosef 
Skuas from the Arctic region are seen on migration in Eilat, at the 
northernmost point of the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba) on the Red Sea, mainly 
in late spring when they are migrating north to their breeding 
grounds (PAZ 1987). On 26, 27 and 28 May 1994, from 0700-0900 h, I 
observed a Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus, a Long-tailed Skua 
S. longicaudus, and a pair of Arctic Skuas S. parasiticus foraging along 
the North Beach of Eilat. Observations were made at these times only 
because later tourist activity drove the skuas too far away from the 
shoreline for behavioural observations. The skuas foraged about 20- 
800 m from the shoreline enabling observation with binoculars (10 x 
40) and telescope (x30). 
I divided the observed foraging strategies of the individual birds into 
three categories: strikes on fish from the surface of the sea, scavenging 
and kleptoparasitism. Because distances were sometimes too great, no 
attempt was made to evaluate the size or species of prey taken. A 
great proportion of the fish however, might have been Tilapia 
Oreochromis mozambicus, which escape from the mariculture pens that 
cover over 100 m 2 of the bay adjacent to the shoreline. 
Pomarine and Long-tailed Skuas were always observed singly and the 
Arctic Skuas together. They were conspicuous with their fast flight, 
erratic chases across the skies, often skimming the waves for short dis- 
tances prior to gaining height. Initially this flight behaviour appeared 
to be random searching, however, in some cases birds were observed 
to suddenly drop onto prey near the surface, grasping such items with 
the bill. If successful most prey was eaten at sea, brought to a buoy 
near the shoreline for consumption (7 cases), or brought to the shore 
for eating (3 cases). 
During 4.3 h of observation of the Pomarine Skua it made four suc- 
cessful catches of fish from the surface, scavenged seven fished tossed 
out by fisherman at the wharf and kleptoparasitized fish, once each, 
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