Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Stercorarius Pomarinus
June 13 flight. After the Owl landed the Jaegers
dived at it - sometimes one at a time sometimes
together. They never came closer than 1 ft.
above the Owl and always dove at it from
in front. The owl would reach at the Jaegers
with its bill with each dive and would
even jump at them. After about 3 minutes
the encounter was over. Earlier Jaegers have
been observed being chased by Glacuous Gulls.
Jaegers also sometimes fly at an Owl that
is flying over. Jaegers do not seem to
frighten small birds.
June 14 A group of about 50 were seen resting on the
snow that covers Central Marsh. A few Glacuous Gulls were
also in this flock. The flock was loosely organized
and the birds were no closer than 5 ft. apart. Another
50 birds were observed in pairs along my route of
travel. Once a bird was observed to swoop repeatedly
at a male Snowy Owl which had just landed. The
Owl jumped up at each swoop and after about
two swoops the owl took off and pursued the
Jaeger. Several territorial encounters were observed.
In one such encounter the ♀ of a pair was seen
chasing a ♂ intruder in the air. As she got
close she uttered a short yapping note, several
times. Her mate followed but did not actively
pursue the intruders. A male was seen to mount
a crouching ♀ several times. When mounting, he