Seabirds Trade Their Survival to Raise More Chicks Next Year Through Flexible Energy Use

Wild seabirds that face high energy demands during the breeding season go on to migrate farther and raise more chicks the next year, but at a cost to their own survival. In 2021, they altered the energy cost of breeding for three groups. One group received extra food, which reduced the energy cost of raising chicks. This raised the energy cost of flight for the rest of the breeding season. The study shows that birds paying higher energy costs to raise chicks migrate farther and breed more successfully the next year, but at a cost to their survival.