About this time last year we were on South Georgia Island (The Daily Bucket: Antarctica was my Backyard in December: Part 1, South Georgia Island). One of our stops was the defunct Grytviken Whaling Station.
We were walking on this path towards Shackleton’s grave…
THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF THE DAILY BUCKET FEATURE, CHECK OUT THIS DIARY: DAILY BUCKET PHENOLOGY: 11 YEARS OF RECORDING EARTH'S VITAL SIGNS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
As we walked along the narrow shoreline path, we heard an unusual, persistent cry. A Southern Giant Petrel heard it, too.
Warning: slightly graphic nature. But I think this group can handle it.
The Petrel immediately jumped up from its resting spot in the grass.
It zeroed in on the cry, running towards the shore. I had no idea what it was going to do.
It was definitely on a mission. We had to get out of its way.
We realized the cry was a newborn Antarctic Fur Seal pup.
The Petrel approached the newborn seal family, and grabbed something.
It was the placenta—I was relieved that it didn’t go after the pup.
Other Petrels had heard the newborn’s cries. The first Petrel tried to quickly gobble up the high protein meal. I think the mother and seal pup are between the birds in the photo.
Within seconds there were several Petrels fighting for a bite.
The free-for-all continued.
In minutes there was nothing left.
Someone has a full stomach.
I looked at the time stamp on my photos. This sequence occurred within 2 minutes, start to finish.
Stinkpot
The southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus), also known as the Antarctic giant petrel, giant fulmar, stinker, and stinkpot.
Leucistic Fur Seal in the same area, just for fun.
Now it’s your turn. What’s happening in your backyard? What have you observed if you’ve traveled near or far?