That
these animals are prepared to undergo so much to find their food is
testament to the nutritional value of that food - krill. Here snow
petrels (and in the first photograph a crab eater seal too) are taking
advantage of a tide crack to fish through in the case of the birds and to
breathe at in the case of the seal. A tide crack is a long narrow open
lead of water that stretches between two points such as nearby islands or
exposed rocks. It arises when the tide rises and falls, when the tide
rises the crack opens when it falls, the crack closes. Such tide cracks
can easily stretch for several kilometres, but never being more than about
50cm wide.
The snow petrels
space themselves out along the tide crack and sit patiently waiting for a
krill to swim by at which point they jump out and hover just above the
surface to take the tasty morsel.
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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