The southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus), also known as the Antarctic giant petrel, can be spectacularly graceful to watch [similar looking to an albatross] as they soar and twist majestically between mammoth and highly sculptured icebergs off the Antarctic Peninsula. However, when it comes to feeding, its splendor has less finesse.  The giant petrel typically feed on fish, krill, squid, offal and waste dumped from fishing boats and cruise ships which they will often follow.  But, when food is short and their growing chick is hungry, their psyche can change to an extremely aggressive predator!

It is mid-March and the end of the Antarctic summer and breeding season for the polar birds on Danco Island – a small island just off part of the west coast of the Peninsula called Graham Land. There’s a real biting chill in the air and winter is approaching as a colony of gentoo penguins stand firm on isolated and exposed rocky outcrops above the beach.  After feeding excursions at sea, the adult penguins use ‘super highways’ or well-trodden paths for ease of access up the slope when returning back to the colony to feed the chicks.  Krill is the main diet for Gentoos which is regurgitated back to the young. Many of the adult penguins are also in the final stages of a ‘catastrophic moult’, an annual affair where they replace all feathers over a 2-3 week period.  It is an intensely physical, mental and energy consuming process, so they remain calm and motionless looking quite sorry for themselves, occasionally tending to their plumage!   

After the brooding period, gentoo chicks leave the nest and form into large crèches to protect themselves as a group from predatory birds like the south polar skua and giant petrel – the swashbuckling pirates of the skies.  The chicks will cowl and shudder as they watch a dark menacing silhouette of a skua (eyeing-up the next meal) swooping low just above their heads. What now follows is a dramatic and violent struggle between predator and prey observed at close-hand from beginning to end between an elderly gentoo chick and what can only be described as the ‘bird from hell’! 

A commentary taken from the field notes:

“It is mid-afternoon and low cloud is bringing a little snow to the island.  Nearby, glaciers crack like thunder and echoes around the bay.  The gentoo colony is relatively calm interrupted by an occasional adult stretching its bill vertically upwards calling to the sky or a chick is heard squawking loudly while chasing its parent for food.   Out of the gloom above the sea, a giant petrel suddenly appears and without hesitation flies directly into one of the crèches, causing the chicks to scatter – mayhem ensues and the whole colony comes to life as the youngsters frantically try to re-group.  It must have been driven by real hunger to do this.  Wings wide-spread and threatening, the petrel spots a lone chick and with an awkward gangly gait it strides towards it. The youngster could do little as the petrel starts to pluck feathers first around the head and rear, and after a minute or so tries to clamber onto the most unfortunate chick.  The weight of the big bird on its shoulder makes the chick fall while the petrel continues relentlessly to pound and bite around the chicks head with its powerful hook-tipped bill.  Surprisingly for such a small sized chick, it not once but many times during the course of the battle,  lifted the petrel up on its shoulders and manage to slip away only to be caught again by the rear!

There were moments when both were standing facing each other and the petrel would then bite and tug onto the chicks somewhat delicate bill to hold it tight and keep it from darting away again.  But each time when the chick was able to wriggle free, it was caught and the petrel yet again scrambled onto the fledgling’s back and this time started to target and peck around the top of the vulnerable ‘fleshy’ legs. It was after 6 minutes from the first attack that the chick started to show signs of exhaustion and injury – the lower abdomen was bleeding and entrails becoming visible!  Despite the terrible wound inflicted, the chick continues to fight back, screeching into the face of the petrel.  It was only at this time that other gentoos from the on-looking colony came closer demonstrating a true spirit of comradery!

The chick makes one last attempt of escape towards the gentoos nearby and for one short moment it appears to secure protection when another chick decides to take on the petrel face on.  A violent squabble ensues and screams echo around the island – but it was not too long before the second chick was on the ground taking a beating and quickly decided that discretion is the better part of valor and retreated to avoid any risk of harm. Momentarily, the petrel seemed somewhat bemused by the confrontation…but it was too late, the chick was dying as it tried to lift its head in a futile attempt to gasp more air.  Shortly after, all was still and quiet.  A poignant moment followed when an adult stepped up to the petrel, face on, and cried loudly to the sky in a defiant call in adversity! Without further contest from other gentoos, the petrel was able to feast on the chick without any further interruption for the next 40 minutes or so, by which time several skuas showed interest in what remained and the petrel decided best to move on. 

Using wings spread for balance, the petrel ambled away from the colony and spent several minutes taking bills full of snow presumably as a post-meal drink to help the digestion!  After, it repeatedly dipped its head into the snow seemingly to help ‘wash off’ the remains of the meal and then flew away in the direction it came from.   The snow was now becoming heavy and not a sound could be heard – the colony of gentoos had fallen into a solemn silence!”

On recollection, one can now understand why this bird has a reputation of dread and terror and why it is also called ‘stinker’, ‘stinkpot’ and ‘glutton’ as well as truly the ‘bird from hell’!