Akpait bird cliff

My Scholarship entry - The Akpait bird cliff on Baffin Island

CANADA | Friday, 21 November 2014 | Views [293] | View Larger Image

The availability of real estate on the cliff is very limited with only a few narrow ledges offering suitable sites. Birds nest in a dense, cacophonous crowd. The noise has to be heard to be believed. Perhaps it is fortunate that Brunnich's guillemots require less than 1 square foot per bird. Eggs are laid on the bare rock, their shape preventing them from rolling off. Adults have to land precisely when returning to their nest.

There is continuous frenzied activity at the Akpait bird cliff as adults fly from their nests to feed at sea and then bring back food for their young chicks. The traffic is fast and furious. Sometimes large groups of kittiwakes take flight at the same time, filling the air with their high pitched cries.

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Brunnich's guillemot chicks are fed by both parents for 18-25 days. Then they have to make a leap of faith from high up on the cliff to the water below. When the chick jumps, a parent, usually the male, follows immediately and shadows the chick on its descent. Unable to fly, the chick spreads its wings and feet to give it some sort of gliding ability. Sometimes the second parent also follows to make sure all is well.

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Akpait bird cliff

My Scholarship entry - The Akpait bird cliff on Baffin Island

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