Abe Borker

A new first, a post with a theme, this week, Pirates of Monterey Bay starring South Polar Skua and associated pirateers of this “bipolar” family. This past week South Polar Skuas numbers in Monterey Bay increased greatly. Coincidentally we saw a slough of offshore passerines, perhaps a great feast for the Skuas to supplement their raids on gulls and terns.

Skuas are undeniably impressive birds, bulked up like a tank and capable of delivering a severe thuggish beating to most any seabird that gets in it’s way. They can weigh up to 1600 grams, and nest near penguin colonies, feeding on penguin chicks while breeding in the Antarctic

South Polar Skua might hold the title of the world’s most southerly bird, sightings have occurred at the South Pole (source). Lucky for us the migrate through Monterey Bay each fall.

In Trials of Life (1990), there is an incredible scene of a similar species of Skua hunting at a Kittiwake colony and dislodging adults so it can grab large chicks off the cliff ledge, an incredible sight!

And on the other extreme of this group of birds is the Long-Tailed Jaeger weighs in at 310 grams (Skuas can weigh as many as FIVE small jaegers).

The most common Jaeger or Skua this time of year is the Pomarine Jaeger. A strong barrel chested bird that flies in such a deliberate matter that immediately separates from other birds on the horizon. Adults have two characteristic long tail feathers that twist and look like spoons, giving the bird it’s unofficial name, Spoon Tailed Skua

All skuas and jaegers spend alot of time stealing prey items from other birds or raiding nesting birds.

On last Saturday’s trip to the offshore Albacore Grounds, we saw ELEVEN skuas over the course of the day and came across other sorts of fierce heads of the food chain. Albacore terrorized numerous schools Pacific Saury at the surface.

Baird’s Beaked Whale were the mammalian highlight, picture an enormous 45 foot dolphin alongside the boat so you could study the scratch marks!

The best bird of the day was a Spotted Towhee 40 miles offshore! But all that is another story, for now all the photos from this past weekend are below:

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