Around the seabird colonies there are always other birds on the look out for an unguarded egg or chick and if one grabs something there are usually others ready to fight for it.
These include turkey vultures
Falkland skuas
and striated caracaras. This rare bird of prey are known locally as Johnny rooks.
They are very unafraid of people and will steal anything they can carry including cameras and binoculars. This one was very determined to get into our tent. Other visitors to our tent incuded hundreds of small black beetles and a mouse which took up residence in Simon's bag and nibbled our chocolate. John also thinks there were penguin fleas - the magellanic penguins are renowned for them!
Near the beach is a stark reminder of the decimation of wildlife caused by humans in the past. This trypot was used to boil penguins to extract oil. They were first rounded up and clubbed to death. Seals were also slaughtered for oil and apparently the whole area between the two beaches at The Neck is so barren and eroded because the tussac grass was burnt to drive the seals out.
These pretty little dolphin gulls are also seen amongst the colonies but only seem to be feeding on droppings and not attacking chicks and eggs.
These include turkey vultures
Falkland skuas
and striated caracaras. This rare bird of prey are known locally as Johnny rooks.
They are very unafraid of people and will steal anything they can carry including cameras and binoculars. This one was very determined to get into our tent. Other visitors to our tent incuded hundreds of small black beetles and a mouse which took up residence in Simon's bag and nibbled our chocolate. John also thinks there were penguin fleas - the magellanic penguins are renowned for them!
Near the beach is a stark reminder of the decimation of wildlife caused by humans in the past. This trypot was used to boil penguins to extract oil. They were first rounded up and clubbed to death. Seals were also slaughtered for oil and apparently the whole area between the two beaches at The Neck is so barren and eroded because the tussac grass was burnt to drive the seals out.
These pretty little dolphin gulls are also seen amongst the colonies but only seem to be feeding on droppings and not attacking chicks and eggs.
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