LTER: Predators

This group concentrates on seabirds- penguins (adelie, gentoo, chinstrap), giant petrels, skuas, and gulls. They perform some basic observation of other birds but focus most of their time and energy on the former. They also do a little bit of mammal census (seals, whales), but another group not tied into the LTER focuses on that. The Birders look at populations, colony changes from year to year, egg and chick success, etc. All this is tied into climate and food source. We are at about the northern limit for Adelie penguins. Just in the past 5 years, this group as seen a major decrease in the number of breeding pairs and colony populations. Chinstraps and Gentoos, which are use to warmer climes, have moved in and compete for food.

Adelie colony census. This includes, checking nests for eggs/chicks, breeding pair observations, etc.

Transmitter on a Giant Petrel. This will record where they go when they switch out on the nest with their mate. Some have been tracked as far away as 800 miles from station for a two week period of time.

Attaching a transmitter to an Adelie penguin. Same kind of tracking idea.