This is bird note.

In shallow waters off the coast of Massachusetts,

ocean predators come from far and wide to hunt.

Humpback whales break the surface as they close their jaws around a school of fish.

And thousands of seabirds dive in the water or skim the surface for easy prey. Great shear waters glide with their

wings held out stiffly just over the waves until they spot their shimmering targets. These top predators are all here thanks to tiny fish called sand lance. They bury themselves in the sand at night for

protection, emerging during the day to feed in huge numbers. That's when

shear waters die for them and hump back whales gulp them down.

But Sand Lance are vulnerable to climate change.

They have their offspring in the winter, so rising temperatures could make it harder for their young to develop

successfully. That puts the rest of the ecosystem, including seabirds, at risk.

Biologists are exploring the link between Shearwaters and their tiny prey by

tracking the birds movements around Stelwagon Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Learn more on our website, bird note.

I'm Ariana Rimmel.

This episode is dedicated to Bob Gooddale,

whose lifelong love for birds and nature

continues to inspire.