Alaska field notes, v4426
Page 259
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Stercorarius pomarinus June 14 jumped on her back as he flopped his wings. He made pecking movements in the direction of the back of her neck but did not actually peck her. He mounted several times, when doing so he emitted sounds that resembled or was the same as the gipping note used in territorial encounters. During the last mounting he bent his rear down so that his cloaca was close to the cloaca of the male. I could not ascertain if contact were made or not. If it was, it was for no longer than 2 seconds. After this mounting the female rose to a standing position and ruffled her feathers and reorganized her plumage. The female was standing with her back approximately parallel to the ground. The male was standing with his head and front part of the body much higher. After about 15 seconds, he flew away. A jaeger was observed flying holding a lemming by the nape at the neck in the bill. The jaeger was not observed eating the lemming. June 15 The jaegers seen were mostly paired. Only about four birds were seen not paired in the both areas. June 16 A flock of about 50 and a flock of about 35 were observed resting on Central Mound. Territorial birds were observed along the higher land where some of the tundra was exposed. June 17 A flock of seven none territorial birds were seen on Family Lagoon. About seven pair of territorial birds were seen in the Britton area. A nest was located in the afternoon in the Britton