Bird of the Week – Least Auklet
The smallest Alcid – the smallest seabird in North America – is the tiny Least Auklet
Least Auklet, St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands
Just a bit over six inches long, it makes up in abundance what it lacks in size. There are an estimated 20 million Least Auklets in Alaska waters. The oversized feet help it dive and swim under water for zooplankton. Despite its tiny size, it is recorded as diving to 75 meters or more. A Least Auklet eats about 90% of its body mass in food each day. When you consider the population, the sheer fertility of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska is apparent.
In breeding plumage, shown here, the bird has an orange bill, the delicate plumes and the tiny knob on top of the bill.
Camera geek stuff: f9, 1/250 ISO 1000
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
Wassamatter? Everyone snowed under? Cats gotcher tongues? Did you all die?
Getting caught up after whooping it up for the inauguration here
and some snowed under with rill snow, also too.
Bears went to bed for winter finally- thanks be!
Too bad about the bears. Was looking forward to them running Parnell’s pastey white hide out of Juneau and America. 🙂
mfi- I was wondering, also. All is good here. It’s 20 below, and there’s plenty of wood cut. I’m having fun watching our dog protecting it’s bones from the ravens. Cheap Thrills.
Really?,it’s the simple thrills in life that matter.I spent many a night in my younger days watching beaver peeled sticks float down my beloved Little Sioux River trying to snag my fishing line. They weren’t very good at it but,man alive,they were persistent. 🙂 I spent numerous nights hoping the catfish wouldn’t bother me,either.
I love dropping in to get some worthwhile reading, with some darn good Alaska education included. Thanks WC!!
I’m really getting an education on the birds of AK. Thanks, WC.
Impeach the Muslim Usurper and his family for not having any class,damnit! The world depends on it.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/29/gop-flack-throws-shade-at-first-teens.html
Civics lesson of the week. How do crested Auklets trea the least among them,them not having having a bill of rights worth a damn?
Looks like a pigeon with paddles. Thanks for the chuckle,WC. 🙂
🙂