Along the edge of Prince William Sound, tens of thousands of black-legged kittiwakes- along with other pelagic birds- build their summer nests.
Because of the threat from land predators such as foxes, the more rugged and vertical the rocky cliffs are, the safer the kittiwakes and their babies will be.
Oh cmon Charlie, they just like the waterfall I like the wide shot, it really demonstrates how difficult it would be for land predators to get at these guys. The tighter shots are great for showing the rather stout nests they make. Funny how some cliff nesters have next to no nest and others have grand nests like these.
awesome charlie. i can't wait to get to alaska for some birding. could push my north american list over 700 if i made it there! great job to capture the rugged habitat.
Thanks Birdie, Tim, Morris, Dorian and Eric.
As Tim mentions, it's funny how different bird species make different sized nests. And how others make no nests at all.
On Alaska's rocky Prince William Sound coastline for example- these kittiwakes make fairly substantial nests out of small plant material.
Puffins nest in cracks in the rocks (or in holes in the ground).
The most amazing to me are the murres. They often nest on cliff faces that have so little room that the adults have to face the cliffs, and can't even turn around. And they lay their eggs (usually one egg per pair) on the bare rock. What keeps the eggs from rolling off the tiny level spots and crashing down the cliffs? Well, one end is much bigger than the other. If an egg is disturbed, it rotates around its own axis, and goes nowhere.
Ain't nature grand?
Charlie
schaffnertpm wrote:
Funny how some cliff nesters have next to no nest and others have grand nests like these. http://www.bosin.info/omsh.gif
Hi, Schaffnert. From Albania.
Welcome to FM Forums. Thank you for commenting .
I don't know how good your English is, but if you think it is good enough to give it a try- go ahead. These people on the forum are nice enough that they won't tease you, and we will do our best to figure out what you mean.
I know I will. That is partly because if you write in Albanian, I will not understand you .
Charlie
Thanks Ken, Ron and Douglas.
Nah, Acapulco is too touristy for these nature lovers.
Like many other sea-going bird species (puffins, penguins, etc.), black-legged kittiwakes spend their lives at sea, coming ashore only to nest. One interpretation: they're tough little buggers .
Charlie
Looks like I can't keep up with the posting speed anymore.
Very nice set, Charlie. I love the overview, threesome and beautiful portrait.
Thumbs up for the nice presentation too.
Chris
Thanks Chris, Rob and Greg.
The sequence is telling a little story, I hope.
And, on a slightly bobbing 100-foot boat, the captains approach such nesting colonies slowly and carefully. Not so much because of disturbing the birds- they were unfazed by our approach- but to keep from being pushed into the rocks by the wind or wave actions. The cliff goes straight down below the surface; all the captains know that. And they are all very experienced and cautious.
Additionally, I had a fixed 400mm, so I couldn't zoom. Where we were was where I took my pics .
Charlie
I like the wide shot, it really demonstrates how difficult it would be for land predators to get at these guys. The tighter shots are great for showing the rather stout nests they make. Funny how some cliff nesters have next to no nest and others have grand nests like these. 
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