Birds+-+Hannah

===// Antarctica is a delicate ecosystem which, if it melted, would make the sea levels rise by 60-70 metres. It is the coldest windiest and driest continent and contains all the ic //// e on the //// planet //// in just one area. **In Antarctica there are 49 species of birds (if you don't include penguins).** //===

__SNOW PETREL (Pagadroma nivea)__
__Classification__ The word "nivea" means snowy in Latin representing their snow white feathers. They are greatly in associated with snow throughout their life. You would think it would be freezing for these birds in sub zero temparatures but in fact it is the complete opposite for the Snow Petrel. They are not in danger of becoming extinct.

__Description__ Their eyes and beak are black and they have bluish-grey feet. They are considered the most beautiful of all Antarctic birds.There are two subspecies of Snow Petrels that are only different in size, although the female is insignificantly smaller, but the young are distinguished by their lengthy black barring upper parts.

__Diet__ Snow Petrels are rarely found away from the coast as all their diet is seafood. It mainly comprises of fish and krill although sometimes, it consists of squid, other mollusks and carrions. They get their food by swooping into the water and grabbing the food in their beak. Snow Petrels are carnivores and yet they do not normally follow cargo ships.

__Habitat__ These birds live on the coast of Antarctica. They can often be found in holes, tall rocky ledges and mountains. Snow Petrels occure mostly in areas with 10-50% snow coverage.

__Reproduction__ When the breeding season comes round the males must look for the female. The female finds (or builds) a sutible nest for them both. After the female lays an egg, both of the Snow petrels help to protect the baby by spraying their main defence, a horrible krill smelling spray to protect them from any predators. They live 14-20 years old and Snow usually only have one baby. The babies are layed in November and hatch in January. They are one out of three spieces of birds who stay in Antarctica and breed there as well.

__Introduction__ The wandering albatross is a large seabird and is part of the Great Albatross family. Their name describes their long travels as it is well adapted to long, continous flight. They are considered one of the largest birds and, out of 22 species, are the largest species of albatross. These birds are currently listed as vulnerable by the ICUN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) because of pollution, such as plastics and fishing hooks presenting a large threat to the population as they form part of their diet.
 * __ WANDERING ALBATROSS (//Diomedea exulans//) __**

__Description__ All the males look the same, all white except their black tipped wings. Females are white with brown spots. Both of their beaks are yellowish, long and strong, adapted for snapping up prey. The young are distinguishable by the dark colour on the tips of their wings. The dark patches subside to the tips of the wings, so it becomes more white as the bird ages.

__Diet__ These birds enjoy chasing after cargo ships (as they can fly until someone throws something overboard) although they prefer to eat squid and fish. They don't land when they feed, instead they swoop down and swipe some seafood from the ocean or gulp down some sea water. Feeding is usuallly undertaken at night. You could call them well equipped for flying long distances. as they also sleep on the waters surface.

__Flight__ They regularly explore places as far as Uraguay and South Brazil. This bird has record holding wingspan, which can be up to a collosal 3.5 metres (12 ft). Their forceful wings can swiftly glide for hours without them having to land or flap their wings. They can spend up to 365 days in the air before resting and can circle the world from the Tropics to Antarctica! If there aren't any air currents then they will usually land on sea and sleep on the waters surface.

__Breeding__ Albatrosses breed for life and the maximum age they can get up to is around 85 years old. When an egg is born it's brought up by both their mother and father. Since the wandering albatross is a large bird it has a very large chick. The bird is 12kg when it leaves the nest and takes about a year to develop completely. As do all the other species of albatross, they only produce one egg each two years.



__**SOUTH POLAR SKUA (//Stercorarious maccormicki//)**__

__Classification__ The South polar skua, like other skuas, has a prominent reputation as qualified hunter and an aggressive scavenger. They are large seabirds from the skua family Stercorariidae but are sometimes placed in the seperate genus //Catharacta//. On a scale of one to ten, they are only a two in relation to the question, "How endangered are they". One being they are huge in numbers and ten making them them highly endangered.

__Description__ While they are quite large birds their heads are relatively smaller. They are the greyest of all the skua species as they don't have the same warm brown colouration. Their bill is narrow and evidently hooked. Unlike other species of skua, South polar skua's legs are lighter and their wings are thinner. The only difference between the chicks and adults is the chick's bill. Which is a faded blue on the base and a sort black above.

__Feeding__ When the Summer months come round, these birds prey on eggs and the chicks of the Adelie penguins. South polar skuas are often found following after ships. Krill, squid, fish & carrion also play a large part of their diet.

__Habitat__ Excepting breeding season, the South polar skua lives in Antarctica (i.e the South pole). They frequently form small inland province in mountain areas. Often they are found in association with penguin breeding grounds and inland petrel province.

__Reproduction__ Very attached to their original breeding ground, they usually return to the same one they are born at, in late October and November. South polar skuas are usually faithful long-term partners, normally breeding for life. The egg size depends on the avaliable food source. When food is plentiful there can be two full sized eggs whereas if not the second egg is likely to be smaller or not laid at all.

__**ARCTIC TERN (//Sterna Parasidaea)//**__ __I____ntroduction__ Arctic terns are famed for their long distance flying because they probably migrate further than any other bird. Although it is small it is able to achieve the phenominal feat by migrating more than 35,000 km annually. The Arctic tern is listed as least concern.

__Description__ Arctic terns are slightly smaller than the common tern, having a short bill and narrow tail. During the Summer, their bill becomes a bright red, as do their legs, while the rest of their body is a light grey. In Winter their beak and legs are black and their feathers are a darker grey. The juvenile is no different to the adult in Winter except they are smaller.

__Diet__ Fishing in flocks of up to sometimes 400-500, just ahead of the surf zones, Arctic terns are affiable (sociable). They feeding mostly contains of small fish and numerous crustaceons, however they also scavenge for coastal organisms that have been stranded. __Habitat__ Although they spend their Winter in Antarctica, they migrate to the North Pole for the Summer. When in Antarctica they stay out out at sea floating on the ice and other objects considering they are vunerable to predatores such as the South polar skua. __Life Cycle__ Between October and January the female can lay up to three eggs. The nests are highly camouflaged so they are hard to see. Breeding begins around the third or fourth year and is usually for life. As do most Antarctic birds they return to the same breeding grounds every year. The maximum age they can to is 34 years old.

Sources: 1. [] 2. [] 3. [] 4. [] 5. [] 6. [] 7. [|http://animals.national geographic.com.au/animals/birds/albatross/] 8. [] 9. [] 10. [] 11. [|http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/blue_eyed_shags.htm#5/] (The bird that makes the wind to blow) 12. [] 13. [] 14. []

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