Science: Atlantic Record

At the Skokholm Island Bird Observatory off Britain's Welsh coast, a pigeon-sized male Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus puffinus) was taking his tour of duty on the family nest last week, none the worse for an epic round-trip Atlantic crossing. A month before, Puffinus had been delivered to Rosario Mazzeo, staff manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and an amateur ornithologist, who was flying back to the U.S. from a European visit. Next day, at Boston's Logan International Airport, Mazzeo released Puffinus from his cage, and launched him out over the water for the return flight.

Though Manx Shearwaters usually migrate roughly...

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