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.