Bird of the Week – Southern Giant Petrel
We’re still in the far south of the planet. This is a Southern Giant Petrel, a big, bad bird. Both a predator and a scavenger, it’s near the apex of the food chain in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Southern Giant Petrel, South Georgia Island
This is a “tube nose,” a bird adapted to living its life on salt water, coming ashore only to breed. The structure on top of her bill helps her to excrete salt in the water she drinks. She’s on eggs, and not especially happy about the big guy in the red coat.
How big? A big female might weigh 18 pounds and have a wingspan of 80 inches. This photo is from about 20 feet away.
The species is threatened by long-line fishing. Bait looks like carrion. They get caught by the hook, dragged down and drown.
For more bird images, visit Frozen Feather Images.
She does appear to be giving you the stink-eye there, WC.
I wouldn’t mess with her, but I do enjoy the vicarious visit.
How marvelous that she can drink saltwater and excrete salt!
Biodiversity is beautiful.
tcw
I was on a little Chilean cruise ship in 2002, going through the Straits of Magellan. One of these caught the air above the boat and stayed with us for almost an hour. They’re magnificent birds.
Prolly an ugly spy for the petrel-chemico industries. Did I mention it’s quite ugly?
You’re entitled to your opinion, Mike, but I think she’s a beauty, in her own way. Thanks as always, WC.
🙂