record of a giant-petrel killing and eating an alba-tross. This observation is also interesting because the method employed to kill the Albatross was clearly seen. According to Serventy et al. (1971, Handb. Aust. Sea-Birds) Black-browed Albatrosses usually are dimensionally larger and of slightly he...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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1977
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.692.7692 http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act%3Dview_file%26file_id%3DMU9780095.pdf |
| Summary: | record of a giant-petrel killing and eating an alba-tross. This observation is also interesting because the method employed to kill the Albatross was clearly seen. According to Serventy et al. (1971, Handb. Aust. Sea-Birds) Black-browed Albatrosses usually are dimensionally larger and of slightly heavier weight than giant-petrels but they and other large seabirds may be killed fairly often by giant-petrels, because, although I was surprised to see the Petrel's attack, in retrospect I believe its actions were deliberate from the time it was first seen. The confident manner in which it immediately grasped the Albatross's head from behind, pushed it under water, then forced it down with its weight, suggests that this bird and other giant-petrels may have used this method to kill large seabirds on pre-vious occasions. This type of predation may occur only in extreme circumstances. Three weakened giant-petrels were found on nearby beaches during the previous period of strong winds and lack of food could have forced this Petrel to attempt exceptional measures to gain nourishment. The Albatross could also have been weakened but its behaviour seemed no different to that of others nearby. |
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