Difference between revisions of "Template:POTD protected"

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The '''[[Abbot Ice Shelf]]''' is an [[ice-shelf]] 250 mi (400 km) long and 40 mi (60 km) wide, bordering the [[Eights Coast]] of [[Westarctica]] from [[Cape Waite]] to Pfrogner Point in [[Antarctica]].
The '''[[Brown Skua]]''' is a large seabird that breeds in the subantarctic and [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] zones and moves further north when not breeding.


[[Thurston Island]] lies along the northern edge of the western half of this ice shelf; other sizable islands ([[Sherman Island|Sherman]], [[Carpenter Island]], [[Dustin Island|Dustin]], Johnson Island, [[McNamara Island|McNamara]], [[Farwell Island|Farwell]] and [[Dendtler Island|Dendtler]]) lie partly or wholly within this shelf.
Brown skuas are masters of piracy, they often feed by stealing partially digested fish from the the beaks of other birds. Their victims are typically terns or [[penguin]]s, though other fish-eating species are also pursued until they disgorge their catches. The fact that skuas are swift and agile fliers (and that they sometimes gang up on a single victim) aid in their success rate. This is the heaviest species of skua and rivals even the largest gulls as the heaviest species in the shorebird order although not as large in length or wingspan.  


The ice shelf was first sighted by members of U.S. Antarctic Service (USAS) in flights from the [[USS Bear|USS ''Bear'']], in February 1940, and its western portion was delineated from air photos taken by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, 1946–47.
<p><small>Photographer: Jenny Varley</small></p>
 
<p><small>Photographer: Joe MacGregor</small></p>
[[:Category:Images|'''(More Images)''']]
[[:Category:Images|'''(More Images)''']]
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Latest revision as of 14:07, 16 April 2024

Brown Suka eating chick.jpg

The Brown Skua is a large seabird that breeds in the subantarctic and Antarctic zones and moves further north when not breeding.

Brown skuas are masters of piracy, they often feed by stealing partially digested fish from the the beaks of other birds. Their victims are typically terns or penguins, though other fish-eating species are also pursued until they disgorge their catches. The fact that skuas are swift and agile fliers (and that they sometimes gang up on a single victim) aid in their success rate. This is the heaviest species of skua and rivals even the largest gulls as the heaviest species in the shorebird order although not as large in length or wingspan.

Photographer: Jenny Varley

(More Images)