At Sea
Even though we left mainland Brazil two days ago, we were for the whole day still in Brazilian waters. Today was the very first day really outside the tropics. Yes – the water and air temperature has changed! Also the wind, started as a strong breeze from S.W., and in the evening more or less at gale force. This of course gave the seabirds air under their wings.
We are going south and into the South Atlantic and we are now in albatross territory. Already today we got our first glimpse of these flying giants. We recorded three species: royal, yellow-nosed and black-browed, all with a very different origin. The nearest breeding place for any Royal Albatross is New Zealand! The yellow-nosed only breed at Tristan da Cunha (an island we visited in March!) “only about 2500 nm away and the black-browed with the nearest breeding colonies at Jason Island (north of the Falklands). We also recorded an Artic skua (parasitic jaeger), which breeds in the Artic (Svalbard) as well as a Magellanic penguin. The scene of seabird diversity off southern Brazil was really complete.
Why do so many seabirds concentrate to this area from so many different places? Yes, the answer is food, food and food... The southern part of the Atlantic lacks more or less shallow areas rich with food, with one exception. The only place you find it is along the southern part of South America, the Patagonian shelf and as we saw today sea birds from all over the world gather to feed.
Not only seabirds were on the scene. During the last 20 years the understanding about intercontinental bird migration inside South America has been developed. We had plenty of rain squalls today and ideal weather to push down any small passerines migrating. In the morning hours at least 5 different small land birds were recorded seeking shelter onboard the ship. Remember we are now in the southern hemisphere and here it is moving towards summer, although still spring. Here is one of many, like us, going south; the Streaked Flycatcher
The day was also filled with lectures and good food. William Lopez Forment gave the morning lecture about his favorite subject – bats! South America, by far, houses the most species of bats in the world, including the three different vampire bats. Suzana gave us an insight into the most well known yearly event of Brazil, the Carneval. It was hard to sit still as we heard the tones and banging from drums.
Even though we left mainland Brazil two days ago, we were for the whole day still in Brazilian waters. Today was the very first day really outside the tropics. Yes – the water and air temperature has changed! Also the wind, started as a strong breeze from S.W., and in the evening more or less at gale force. This of course gave the seabirds air under their wings.
We are going south and into the South Atlantic and we are now in albatross territory. Already today we got our first glimpse of these flying giants. We recorded three species: royal, yellow-nosed and black-browed, all with a very different origin. The nearest breeding place for any Royal Albatross is New Zealand! The yellow-nosed only breed at Tristan da Cunha (an island we visited in March!) “only about 2500 nm away and the black-browed with the nearest breeding colonies at Jason Island (north of the Falklands). We also recorded an Artic skua (parasitic jaeger), which breeds in the Artic (Svalbard) as well as a Magellanic penguin. The scene of seabird diversity off southern Brazil was really complete.
Why do so many seabirds concentrate to this area from so many different places? Yes, the answer is food, food and food... The southern part of the Atlantic lacks more or less shallow areas rich with food, with one exception. The only place you find it is along the southern part of South America, the Patagonian shelf and as we saw today sea birds from all over the world gather to feed.
Not only seabirds were on the scene. During the last 20 years the understanding about intercontinental bird migration inside South America has been developed. We had plenty of rain squalls today and ideal weather to push down any small passerines migrating. In the morning hours at least 5 different small land birds were recorded seeking shelter onboard the ship. Remember we are now in the southern hemisphere and here it is moving towards summer, although still spring. Here is one of many, like us, going south; the Streaked Flycatcher
The day was also filled with lectures and good food. William Lopez Forment gave the morning lecture about his favorite subject – bats! South America, by far, houses the most species of bats in the world, including the three different vampire bats. Suzana gave us an insight into the most well known yearly event of Brazil, the Carneval. It was hard to sit still as we heard the tones and banging from drums.
