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Yoonett — A rocky path ...
Published: 2012-07-18 19:56:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 546; Favourites: 41; Downloads: 0
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Guillemot Baby on Lunga, Treshnish Isles, Isles of Mull - 14/07/2012This guillemot chick was just about the size of a pebble, trying to climb a stone the size of a glass marble.
These baby birds have a rocky path indeed. Just when they are ready to "fledge" (well really they don't even have nests) they have throw themselves over the edge of a cliff plunging into incredible depth. Just to find themselves landing in ice-cold water, where they have to learn how to swim and dive the hard way. Surviving such torture of a journey their parents will come after them to teach how to fish until they finally take off for their long journey North into chill of the Arctic Sea ...
© 2012 Yoonett
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Comments: 18
Nice shot, Cristina. I know that opportunities to get these tykes are quite limited.
Two minor points in your commentary:
Only the male accompanies the fledgling and it is he who educates the youngster.
The female usually remains at home, at the nest site for a few days, perhaps as much as two weeks.
There is evidence to show that, Mama imprints on the unique appearance of her own egg immediately after laying it and incubates the right one.
However, as with the Razorbills, she does not distinguish her own chick, by sight or call, after leaving the "nest". That's Daddy's job.
Also, they are somewhat larger than you describe. The newly hatched chick is a really wobbly thing but coming from an egg that's about 3.25" log and 2" in diameter the wet chick is about the size of a warbler. A chick it would measure about 3 inches tall as soon as it is able to stand upright and walk.
By the time that they leave for their sea life, they weigh in at some 225 grams, about 1/4 their adult size.
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HOW DID YOU CAPTURE THIS MOMENT?! AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZING!!!!!!!
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Hello 
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lol - well same family but it not a penguin it is a common guillemot and when grown up it will look like these [link]
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The grown up one's are so beautiful!
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No it is a tiny common guillemot... this is how he probably look like when he is adult [link]
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There are also black guillemots ... will upload a pic soon
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Danke, Ma. Ja das war der Star des Tages. Hi, hi.
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I know this chick was so unbelievable cute and really clumsy nearly fell over a stone the size of a small thimble.
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