Page 66 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #02

GIANT PETRELS

hey may not be pretty but they most definitely and thrive in some of the most inhospitable
l
e
are beautiful in their own uncompromising environments of the world,” says ornithologist
ogist
way. There is nothing quite like watching the David Steel. “It’s no coincidence that petrels ls
coming together of hundreds of these majestic are most numerous in latitudes with
giants at a recently deceased corpse. With persistent winds. They make flying in the e
piranha-like efficiency, they can tear hundreds strongest of weather look easy, as wing adaptations
daptations
he air currents
of kilograms of flesh from an elephant seal let them exploit the wind’s energy and the air currents
Tcarcass in hours, with powerful tube-nosed that develop over steep ocean waves. This allows them
s allows them
of energy. These
bills strong enough to crack open a seal skull. Plunging to travel long distances with little waste of energy. These
deep into the remains, the heads and necks of these usually seabirds are true pelagic species and their rather short
ir rather short
exquisitely preened birds quickly become coated with bright broad tails and often broad-tipped wings give them the
give them the
red blood and gore. It’s not a sight for the squeamish! benefits of dynamic flight.”
Equally striking is the competition for the optimal
place at the feast. The birds posture with wings spread ADMIRE FROM AFAR
s
toric-looking
and tails fanned, moving their heads from side to side Most human encounters with these prehistoric-looking
under-appreciate
while emitting their best war songs – chillingly primitive birds are from a distance and it is easy to under-appreciate
mfortably stand
guttural cries – to put off challengers. If this deterrent is their true size. Side by side, they would comfortably stand
unsuccessful the birds clash chest to chest, locking bills taller than a human adult’s knee height. Few experiences
ew experiences
dow of their
and slapping wings until one contender concedes. It’s are as haunting as being cast into the shadow of their
a spectacular display of competitive carnage from this magnificent 2m wingspan as you walk along a beach with
ng a beach with
ultimate scavenger. them soaring over your head. The ghostly ‘whoosh’
ly ‘whoosh’
adds to the
Yet, in stark contrast to this savage behaviour, these sounds that accompany their flight only adds to the
birds are resplendent in flight as they seem to follow supernatural atmosphere. Above: giant
:
giant
Abo
v
e
ships effortlessly across the Southern Ocean. “Petrels are The Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands where giant petrels are similar
true masters of the waves with the ability to manoeuvre petrels breed lack native mammalian predators, so these in size to many
albatrosses, but
birds have fulfilled the twin roles of top predator and have narrower,
FEW EXPERIENCES ARE AS top scavenger. I am currently living and working on shorter wings.
one of these sub-Antarctic islands, South Georgia, Below: when
HAUNTING AS BEING CAST roughly 1,390km south-east of the Falklands and rearing chicks,
2,150km from South America. the petrels
INTO THE SHADOW OF THEIR As a product of its isolated nature and extreme rely heavily on
xtreme
penguin and seal
ent human
MAGNIFICENT 2M WINGSPAN. conditions, South Georgia has no permanent human colonies as a
of British
residents. Instead, it boasts a conveyor belt of British
source of food.