When we cruise through the sea ice, we’re often followed by a large group of Kittiwakes. Or actually, not really followed, they fly ahead of us. They have learned that we push away ice floes, exposing the Polar Cod that they like to feed on. Normally they are protected by the ice, but as we push that away and create some eddies, they are accessible for the Kittiwakes. This of course attracts Glaucous Gulls, who try to steal the fish from the Kittiwakes.
For us this gives a lot to watch while we’re searching for Polar Bears…
Do you work on the Ortelius or the Plancius ?
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Ortelius most of the time.
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I’ve been on the Ortelius last summer in Svalbard when the boat was stopped in the ice ! 🙂
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The trip with the engine failure? Then you know me, I was onboard as well that trip.
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Yes, this trip ! So we was on the same boat ! I’ve been on the Plancius the week later. It was a really good trip !
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