The little auks are still incubating their eggs. We have been searching for their nests so that we will be able to see how many eggs hatch and how many chicks will leave their nests. To find the nests we crawl around on the rocks and peek into every crevice with a flashlight.
Most of the nests are very deep and you can just catch a glimpse of the birds. Some of the birds have more exposed nests. In order to be able to find the nests again, we mark them with a wooden stakes.
Here is Nell at nest 33:
Both males and females incubate the eggs. When they are not warming their eggs or out feeding in the ocean, they sit out on the rocks and do a lot of socializing with neighbors.
Today it seemed like the glaucous gulls were patrolling the hillside constantly. The little auks hardly had time to sit before the gull came back through. Here is what the sky looked like most of the day:
After a full day of work in the colony Derek and Zach decided it was time for a midnight swim!!!
Note the glacier ice in the water!
