Birding in Antarctica
If there is one place on earth most described as providing "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences for birders, it's Antarctica. Famously the coldest, driest, highest, and windiest continent on earth, Antarctica supports organisms that are especially adapted to its extreme climate. The Antarctic shoreline serves as a refuge for sea-going animals such as seals and a nesting ground for thousands of birds.Polar cruising
Visiting Antarctica is not as easy as packing for a trip to the countryside, but visitors to the continent say that the difficulty is worthwhile. Antarctica is accessible to tourists only during the short southern summer season from November to March. During this strange season, the sea ice melts enough to allow access during the 24-hour daylight and temperatures can reach a balmy 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit). Dozens of commercial tour companies provide transportation to Antarctica, and by far the best way to visit is by ship. Larger ships may seem attractive, but smaller ships are more manoeuvrable and can get into many places that the big ships cannot, as well as just getting closer to the shoreline. Many of the smaller ships were specifically built for working in the Polar regions and have strengthened hulls, so if you are going to book, make sure you check the style of the ship before you book.
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Antarctic Wildlife Guide This is a no brainer - the |
7 penguin species
Birders flock to Antarctica because of its incredible bird life. But because conditions on land are dangerous, the only way to explore the continent's shoreline on foot is to book a tour that includes a shore expedition. Tour guides are often wildlife experts, and will be able to tell you where and how to discover the area's most sought-after bird species, including the seven penguin species that are found on the continent. These unique birds have become popular around the world because of their roles in several blockbuster movies, including March of the Penguins and Happy Feet. Visitors to Antarctica may have the chance to view King penguins, petite Gentoo and Adelie penguins, charismatic Chinstrap penguins, Rockhopper penguins, Macaroni penguins, and the only endemic bird species in Antarctica, the Emperor penguin. Many tours will allow passengers on shore trips to walk within a close but respectful distance, so identifying species is easy, as is taking incredible photographs.
Albatrosses
Besides penguins, Antarctica is home to many other bird species. Albatrosses are one of Antarctica's largest summer residents, with wingspans exceeding 9 feet or 3 metres. Five species are found in the Antarctic region, including the Wandering albatross, the Gray-headed albatross, the Black-browed albatross, the Sooty albatross, and the Light-mantled albatross. Because these birds spend most of their lives at sea, observing them while they are nesting, and therefore relatively stationary, is a dream come true for many birders looking to add these rare birds to a life list.
About the author
Chantelle Voss is the Owner of YourBirdOasis.com and a birding enthusiast. YourBirdOasis.com can help you transform your garden into your own bird oasis with a variety of beautiful Bird Feeders, Copper Bird Baths, and Bird Houses.
Petrels, Shearwaters, skuas and terns
The coast of Antarctica is also frequented by 23 species of petrels and shearwaters, including the Cape petrel, Hall's Giant petrel, and the Fairy prion. In the cormorant family, birders can observe the Crozet shag, the Antarctic shag, and the Imperial shag. Another sought-after group of Antarctic migrants are the skuas. Two species that can be seen are the South Polar skua and the Brown skua. And lastly, birders who spot migrating Arctic terns are lucky indeed. This jewel of a bird undertakes the longest migration of any bird on earth - a round trip of 70,900 km or 44,300 miles. Thankfully, to visit this stark and beautiful continent, you won't have to travel as far!
