A Rare Sighting
November 19, 2008
I don’t know where all the storms are. Despite its gnarly reputation, Antarctica delivered another clear, sunny, calm day (current temperature eight degrees F), perfect for recording penguin bands. After yesterday’s exhausting and freezing project, Kirsten, Michelle and I spent this afternoon wandering in the colony, dividing areas and searching for banded birds. Each nest with a tagged penguin is marked so we can keep track of their reproductive success this season.
Around five in the afternoon, Kirsten, who was out of earshot down the frozen beach, suddenly burst on the radio. “Noah! Look over your left shoulder! What’s that bird?” A streamlined gray and white seabird was gliding up and down the coastline. As it made two passes then landed on a rocky cliff, Michelle, Kirsten, and I (spread out over a quarter mile but in sight of each other) discussed it over the radio, directing each other on its movements. Eventually, we all had decent views, and the bird did a fly-by about eight feet in front of Michelle.
It was a Southern Fulmar (also called Antarctic Fulmar), the first one to be recorded at Cape Crozier in 13 years of field seasons, and the 10th bird species to be seen here in that time. They can be abundant in oceans surrounding Antarctica, but are apparently quite rare in the Ross Sea. Unfortunately, the bird headed out to sea before posing for any photos, but its identification was unquestionable. You never know what might show up here!
Noah In Penguin Valley
Curious Adelie Penguin
Penguins At Their Nests
Adelie Penguin Portrait
2 Responses to 'A Rare Sighting'
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Noah,
Awesome blog. The pictures and narratives are wonderful. My 5 kids and wife wait anxiously for me to show them your blog at dinner time. A few questions though.
1) What keeps you warm in the sleeping tent? Just layers & sleeping bag?
2) Why did you have to move the fence for one bird? It looks like the fence wasn’t very tight around the birds. Were you trying to loop every bird in a specific area (entire colony?)?
3) Are you three continuing research on the same colony that people have done in years past or is this brand new research on a brand new location/birds?
4) When one parent leaves to go feed, does the other parent nest in its place or do other parents take over?
5) The hut and the tents are on ground away from the glacier? Is the glacier moving gradually?
6) How often do you get re-stocked from the main Base? Will you get to go back to the Base sometime in the 6 month stay?
Txs and Keep warm
Pete sCocum
20 Nov 08 at 9:35 am
Your mom tells me that I should write more. This blog is great. I enjoy every minute of viewing. I love the photos, your humor is delightful and I am glad that I get to see and hear what you are doing daily instead of having to wait until you get back. I hope you can keep this up as you have many fans.
What a fabulous adventure. So you get to add another bird sighting to your list. Do you think there will be a point when you will have seen all the birds that have been known to be seen and then you won’t have any new discoveries? Please prevent frostbite. We don’t want you to have to come home early, and as you know there are lifetime consequences to frostbite.
Have fun.
Diane S.
20 Nov 08 at 3:26 pm