Posted on May 3, 2012
Posted on January 26, 2012
If you thought the Giant Petrel was a little scary, let me tell you about the Skua. Skuas are one of the top predators here. They’re quite good at what they do, too, and get a reputation for being a bit evil. Some individuals, for example, have been caught pecking out the eyeballs of penguin chicks. Rather than eating them on the spot, the skuas leave these chicks wandering around helpless, ensuring a fresh supply of easy-to-catch meat throughout the entire Antarctic summer. Yup, skuas are pretty easy to hate… until you see BABY SKUAS, which are even cuter than penguin chicks. I mean, c’mon. Look at this lil guy. He’s like a real-life marshmallow Peep!
Posted on January 24, 2012
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve met plenty of six-foot wingspans before. Heck, there are folks on UNC’s basketball team with wingspans much wider than that. I don’t think any of them have big, pointy beaks, though, and I’m also pretty sure none of them have ever eaten a penguin or seal. Meet the Giant Petrel: closest thing I’ve ever seen to a pterodactyl.
Posted on January 17, 2012
Today is a nice, cozy, indoorsy kind of day – as in it’s blowing 45 knots with gusts of 55. King Neptune is having a great time blasting sea spray into faces and teaching lessons to the idiot who tried to carry her open coffee mug between buildings. So, after a quick trip to the laundry room, I’m huddled in the galley, with a fresh vat of caffeine safely in hand. What to do with my spare time? How about string together some mellow video clips of sea ice rolling in on the changing tide:
Posted on January 11, 2012
Posted on January 9, 2012
Posted on December 30, 2011
Posted on December 22, 2011
I bet you came here looking for a super cute picture of a sleepy penguin chick. Busted! Well check out this freaky factoid in photo form: Adelie penguin tongues have spikes. SPIKES! Creepy little dino-beaks with spiky tongues.
(click on the photo to enlarge it)
If you must know, their tongues have spikes to better catch and devour krill.