photo of the day from Antarctica

in #wildlife8 years ago

The South Polar Skua - a scavenger/predator of the air in Antarctica. Primarily, the hunt and eat penguin eggs and baby penguins when they are very young. As a result they typically have a bad reputation as villains because "how dare they eat those cute adorable baby penguins.!?"

This photo they are scavenging on a penguin carcass, which I believe was from a Chinstrap penguin. Simply due to the fact we were at a Chinstrap penguin breeding colony. Once one had started devouring the leftovers another Skua came on down and joined the party and they began fighting over what was left.

How did the penguin die?
No idea... could have been natural, another type of predator - such as leopard seal or southern giant petrel. Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.


IMG_7961.jpg

Two Skua scavenging on a Chinstrap penguin carcass.
Click image to view full size.


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Nice nature

This is pure nature right here, two skuas scavenging on a penguin carcass in Antarctica, I look at this picture and realize how sheltered and safe I am.

Whoaa. How big are those scavengers?

they aren't that large - kind of a big seagull size

omg. that small? really,

how dare they eat those cute adorable baby penguins.!?

huhu. poor little baby penguins. but yeah, that's the circle of life.

It can be a little sad to watch when it happens. Do keep in mind that the Skua has babies to feed as well, which are just as cute as the baby penguins

“Through endurance we conquer.”

― Ernest Shackleton

Pue yang ka dipajoeh lee cicem laot nyan

a very beautiful bird

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