Fledgling in distress.
The Fulmars are a common species of seabirds found all over Iceland. They live and nest on the cliffs by the sea.
In the Fall, hundreds of fledglings find themselves in trouble during migration to the open ocean. To take flight the Fulmars need to throw themselves off a cliff edge. They have a great difficulty launching from level ground. Many chicks mistake the road for the water, others miscalculate and fall short. Disoriented, they become, er, sitting ducks for the Arctic Fox, or roadkill. Although not as common today, a local farmer feeling peckish may also fancy a free meal.
See the video below taken at the beach at Vík í Mýrdal. The Fulmars come with an inbuilt defense mechanism – projectile vomit of foul, sticky gunk – and one has to be careful not to get too close. Birds of prey are extremely wary of Fulmars as a splotch on their feathers can mean a death sentence.
Stranded Fulmar – Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland
DJI Phantom 4 Pro v2
Thank you, Nachi and Bob.
Wonderful back story, photo, and videography. I continued to be awed by Iceland, its geology, wild life and inhabitants. Well done.
Beautiful, Rajan! And that sublime aalaap is apt.