Limited dispersal by Nazca boobies Sula granti

We documented natal and breeding dispersal at several spatial scales by Galpagos Nazca boobies Sula granti, a wide-ranging pelagic seabird. We found exceptionally low degrees of both types of dispersal despite these birds’ vagility. Median natal dispersal distances were 26 m and 105 m for males and females, respectively. Median breeding dispersal distances for both sexes were 0 m. No natal or breeding dispersals occurred from our study site at Punta Cevallos, Isla Espaola to six other colonies in the Galpagos, but we did document four long-distance natal dispersals from Punta Cevallos to islands near the South American coast. Recaptures and dead recoveries of ringed birds Ashowed long distance nonbreeding movements to the Central merican coast and elsewhere Ain the eastern Pacific, contrasting with the very limited dispersal to breeding sites.