The
Antarctic skua (Catharacta maccormicki) is the size of a largish
gull. They nest all around continental antarctica and breed into the deep
south. They are excellent fliers and have occasionally been sighted
deep in the interior hundreds of miles from anything other than ice. One
of their feeding techniques is to chase and bully other birds into
regurgitating the contents of their crop, a strategy successful with some
species that are in themselves excellent fliers.
They tend to have a reputation as being fierce and
aggressive birds, which is somewhat unfair. I see them more as characters
who stick up for their own corner and look after their own - no more or
less than humans do.
Often a visitors first sight of a skua is at a penguin
colony where they usually are nesting nearby. They hang around as a dark
presence looking for unguarded eggs or weak or isolated chicks to prey on,
which is a very productive means of finding food, but does their
reputations no good at all.
Paul
Ward - Pentax equipment, 100mm lens, 35mm film, K64.
This picture may not be copied or used in any manner without
prior written permission.
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