Alaska field notes, v4467
Page 365
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Stercorarius pomarinus John O. Sullivan Burrow, Alaska 1962 7 June A pomarine jaeger flew over at about 1600, while in drum area. Flew toward beach ridge - followed it with glasses - looked like 3 more of same spp. farther off flying in same direction. 12 June 1 pj seen with lemming beyond Beach Ridge toward Wolpelklaq. Bird sat on snow - tearing fur off the lemming. Was joined by a 2nd pj after about 1 minute. The 2nd bird approached to within 1 foot or so - posture: stood up straight facing away from bird with lemming. After 30 seconds or so paced bird with lemming and they began to pull and tear at it. Also would drop it, then one would pick then drop again and let the other pick. Intestines soon visible to us and were eaten. One of the jaegers was toward the melanistic after feeding; this one flew to nearby pond and drank. A 3rd jaeger flew to the spot on the snow when the 2 had been (1 remained with part of the lemming). The new jaeger attempted to take the remains of the lem- ming, but was unsuccessful. The dark jaeger flew over (from the pad and swallowed what remained of the lemming. While swallowing the lemming, this jaeger was threatened by the newcomer.