Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 07/20/2007 - 16:07
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Greenland Seabird Ecology

Hey Mom! We miss you. Guess what I am going to go and do tonight, get Harry Potter!!!! Wahooo. So, what is the most exciting thing you have done in greenland so far? Much Love

Maris

Thu, 07/26/2007 - 08:35

Mary Anne Pell…

Hi Marisa, I miss you too. Are you having fun driving the car around. Your driver’s license is over one week old now! By the time I get home both you and Zac may have read Harry Potter so, two things; don’t give the story away to me, and, don’t pass along the book to anyone else.
The day before yesterday, the guys captured 8 parent birds and super-glued little TDR loggers on them. Each weighs about 1.5 grams and is glued under the breast feathers, time is recorded and the birds are released after blood samples are also taken. The same birds need to be recaptured within 5 days and the loggers cut off. It just removes a few feathers to cut the loggers off. The same day, 21 parents were captured and after blood was taken, were injected with double labeled water (containing radioactive hydrogen) and released. They must be recaptured within three days. After three days all radioactive hydrogen has decayed. So yesterday, Ann, Rachael and I started observations at 3 pm. We set out noose carpets and sat and waited. And waited. And waited.
By nine pm, glaucous gulls were out feeding and it looked like snow flurries were behind us. By 2:30 am, when we had the guys relieve us, we had recaptured two logger birds and 4 double labeled water birds. The purpose of the loggers is to measure the time each bird spends under water, the depth they swim to during foraging, and to get a profile of their diving behavior. Temperature is also recorded along with air and water pressure. When one loggers’ data was uploaded to the computer today, before everyone went to bed at noon, we observed the profile chart that was generated. It was amazing. Everyone chimed in with their thoughts about; the depth that bird went to, how long it was under water feeding (one trough on the chart indicated a 45 second dive down 20 meters) and how to interpret the parameters graphically shown.
The older fluff ball is Abe, about 8 years old, and the white haired one is Tyr, the female who is under one year old. We were informed that most dogs in Greenland are NOT pets, but working sled dogs. When their stamina and strength run out, at about 5 years old, most are killed and replaced. It’s a different culture, and a harsh environment. Abe’s owner, however, has a soft spot for this beautiful animal. We are very glad to have him, although he has not given us any reason for alarm yet.
We go back tonight at about 8 pm. It is so strange to have it be 2 am and, because it is not dark, to feel like it is just evening. My biological clock will be really goofed up when I come back. It is so amazing here, beautiful. That reminds me I need to add photos of the bay.
I will also email you personally, so check your mail. I Love you. Mom