This is Bird Note.

And this is a giant flock of tiny Dovkey.

Dovkey are robin-sized seabirds related to ox and puffins.

Their compact black and white bodies are perfect for life on the water.

You can find them whirring and diving across the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans.

In winter, birders and boaters can sometimes spot flocks of Dovkey as far south as coastal New

England. In summer, Dovkey

high-tail it to the Arctic, where they form massive breeding colonies on rocky islands and

cliff sides. Both parents work together to rear a single chick. They may fly more than 60 miles

to collect the perfect-sized fish for their nesting.

Dovkey are one of the most abundant birds in the North Atlantic,

but their populations have declined drastically since the 1970s.

Like many ocean species, Dovkey face lethal threats from oil spills and chemical pollution. By advocating for clean

water and green energy, we can protect our global oceans for people and birds, like Dovkey.

For Bird Note, I'm Ariana Rimmel.

This episode is brought to you in loving memory of John Hardner, a father and educator who loved nature and public radio.