Polar scientists showed which birds can be seen near the Vernadskyi station. PHOTO
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Ukrainian polar explorers talked about the birds that live near the Akademik Vernadskyi station. In total, there are 18 species of birds from 8 families in the area of the Argentine Islands, where “Vernadsky” is located. “Birds of the Antarctic are an extraordinary survival, an ancient lineage and a constant combination of life and death, tragedy and the birth of new life,” say Antarctic researchers. Photos of birds that can be found near the Antarctic station were published by the National Antarctic Science Center on Facebook. Penguins Photo: National Antarctic Science Center First of all, of course, penguins are the most common birds on our island. In summer, their number near the station can exceed 4 thousand! They do not fly, but they swim very nimbly. There are 3 species living in the “Vernadskyi” area: subantarctic (most of them here), antarctic and Adélie penguins. Read also: Polar scientists on Vernadskyi showed growing baby penguins. PHOTO White terns Among the nests of penguins, you can often see small white birds – this is the white tern. “They choose a group of penguins because, in particular, they feed on krill from the droppings or spit of these animals. They do not have webbing on their paws: this indicates that these are purely terrestrial and probably relict animals,” say the polar explorers. These birds fly quite well, but prefer to walk. Blue-eyed cormorants “If a penguin has flown, then it’s a cormorant,” polar explorers joke about the similarity of these birds due to their similar size and coloration. Blue-eyed Antarctic cormorants are excellent not only in the air, but also in the water. They can dive for food to a depth of several tens of meters (the record is 116 m) and stay in the ocean for several minutes. Read also: Ukrainian polar explorers showed how blue-eyed cormorants grow. PHOTO Dominican martins Dominican martins are called the main gardeners of Antarctica. They purposefully collect local vegetation for their nests and carry it over considerable distances. “They are very mobile: flights of 200 km or more are not a problem for them. They hold well on water and can also dive for food,” the researchers add. South polar plover “As usual, every band has its own plover. In the Antarctic, in particular, it is the plover. It is not only a plover, but also a thief (joke),” scientists say. In order to survive, this bird has to literally gnaw off eggs and weak chicks from the noisy pinvinia colony, as well as take food from cormorants on the fly. He is strong, hardy and fearless: if he feels a danger to the nest or chicks, he immediately raises a cry and enters into battle. However, scientists reassure: the skua, with its seemingly terrible actions, does a great service to penguins, keeping their population in a healthy state. Polar tern The record holder among Antarctic birds is the polar tern. It migrates twice a year between the Arctic and the Antarctic: it flies to where it is summer, covering a total of at least 40,000 km. There is also an Antarctic tern here, but it does not fly to the Northern Hemisphere. Wilson’s curlew Wilson’s curlew is called the swallow of the Antarctic. And all because, hunting for krill above the water, these birds seem to perform a graceful dance, touching the water with their paws, polar explorers say. Petrels Also in the Antarctic area, you can find different types of petrels: snow, southern giant, Cape, Antarctic. It is interesting that snowy and Antarctic petrels fly all the way to the South Pole. “If you want to imagine a Jurassic pterosaur, look at the southern giant petrel. It is a molded pterosaur. Especially when it is crawling in the body of its victim, covered in its blood. At the same time, he is a very careful man: he will definitely present something tasty to the lady of his heart,” – scientists write. Egyptian heron In some years, a species atypical for Antarctica – the Egyptian heron – is accidentally brought to Galindez Island. The poor thing loses its way and becomes easy food for skunks. It will be recalled that earlier Ukrainian polar explorers showed the “blooming” of snow in Antarctica. Read also: Baby boom in Antarctica: polar explorers showed how a baby penguin hatches from an egg. VIDEO
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