Kleptoparasitism
Why bother fishing when you can steal another bird’s fish? Arctic Skuas are adept at kleptoparasitism.
I’m on Papa Westray for the day with my friend Martin after taking the new ferry from Westray.
Here on Papay, Arctic Skuas sit perched on cliffs or grassy hillocks overlooking the sea. They searching the horizon, with their exceptional eyesight, for birds returning to their nests with fish.
When they see the glint of fresh fish in the beak of a potential mugging, they take flight with a whip of their wings and sweep majestically across the sea in swift pursuit.
Their aim is to harass the bird into giving up its catch.
When they chase Common Guillemots they grab their feet and tip them up in the air, making them suddenly non-aerodynamic and making them fall from the sky.
When they chase Puffins the Puffins tends to drop their sand eels before the Arctic Skua gets to them.
Here’s one chasing a Puffin and relieving it of its fish:
Today their main target is the Black Guillemots which nest along this stretch of coast on Papa Westray. When they drop their fish, the Arctic Skua has to be quick to retrieve it from the sea.
Here’s one scanning the sea’s surface for a dropped catch:
It’s utterly absorbing to watch, but it’s time for our ferry back. There are currently only twelve seats on the Westray to Papa Westray ferry service, which is a little unfortunate if you’ve not booked yourself on the return service and it’s full. We’re in luck. No-one has stolen our seats.