A Spectacular ‘Fever’ of Cownose Rays Sighted Off Long Island
Drone photographer Marian Clark has captured a breathtaking aerial view of hundreds of cownose rays swimming in tight formation off the coast of Long Island, New York. The dark, gliding shapes formed what marine biologists call a “fever” of rays — an apt term for the enormous, moving pattern created when these animals travel together.
The annual gathering, recorded in early August, shows the rays travelling south as part of their regular Atlantic coast migration. For those on boats or at the shore, only a few might be visible, but the drone perspective reveals the true scale of the phenomenon: a dense, coordinated stream that can stretch for hundreds of metres.
Cownose rays undertake these long-distance journeys every year, moving between warmer southern waters in winter and cooler northern feeding grounds in summer. The exact timing and route depend on water temperature, food availability and seasonal conditions, making each year’s migration slightly different.
Why Do Cownose Rays Migrate in Such Massive Groups?
The Annual Cownose Ray Migration
Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) are known for travelling in large, often single-sex groups as they follow the warming Atlantic waters. Their movement north in spring and south in autumn is driven by the search for optimal conditions for feeding and breeding. During the summer months, the coastal shallows of the US Northeast provide rich foraging grounds.
These rays are specialised bottom-feeders, using their powerful, plate-like teeth to crush clams, oysters and other hard-shelled prey. As they hunt, they disturb the seafloor sediment, a process that can influence local benthic ecosystems. The concentrations seen off Long Island likely reflect a particularly productive feeding area or a staging point on their southward journey.
A Drone’s-Eye View of a Hidden Phenomenon
From sea level, a passing fever of rays might appear as scattered shadows or occasional fin tips breaking the surface. Drone photography transforms that glimpse into a striking natural event. Clark’s footage shows the animals gliding in near-perfect synchrony, their broad pectoral fins creating an impression of an underwater highway. Such aerial documentation provides scientists and the public with a rare look at a behaviour that mostly occurs out of sight, deepening understanding of migratory patterns and marine animal group dynamics.
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