Unusually
for Antarctic birds, snow petrels seem to apply some thought to the
practicalities of a nest site. This pair are at the entrance to their
nest which has been made in a natural crevice amongst some large broken-up
rocks. This is a frequent choice for a nest site though not always available
or in plentiful supply as snow petrels nest very far south and such
crevices are frequently snowed or iced up.
Attempting to approach a nest (as I did on many
occasions when helping in a long term programme on nesting success) brings
out the worst in snow petrels. A well aimed stream of foul smelling,
bright pink, oily, semi-digested krill mixed with oily stomach secretions
would come in your direction in their (admirably unpleasant) defence
mechanism.
Snow petrels have been known to nest far inland on the
Antarctic continent, nearly 200km. from the nearest sea that they must
travel to in order to feed. They must nest on rock and in these cases
choose "nunataks" isolated outcrops of tall rock ridges and mountains
that protrude above the surrounding ice from the bed rock.
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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