See hundreds of stingrays swarming off the coast of New York
A “fever” of cownose rays revealed by striking drone footage could be a sign of warming oceans
A swarm of hundreds of cownose rays has been captured on drone footage off the coast of Southampton, New York. The phenomenon, referred to by marine biologists as a "fever," is a sign of rising ocean temperatures. In the videos, the rays can be seen gliding just beneath the water's surface, resembling raviolis in aquamarine water.
Cownose rays, named for their cow-like snouts, can reach lengths of three to four feet. These migratory creatures travel up the Atlantic coast from Florida in the summer, following waters that are roughly 21 to 26 degrees Celsius (70 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit). They feed on clams, oysters, and crustaceans and possess a mildly venomous tail barb for defense.
Historically, large gatherings of these rays only reached as far north as the Chesapeake Bay, with only occasional sightings beyond that. Rising ocean temperatures may be allowing them to arrive in northern waters earlier and stay longer. While cownose rays have been documented in waters off New York State since at least the 1800s, drone footage is providing unprecedented views of such natural occurrences.
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