 |
Nikon and The Brevard Nature Alliance present the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Brevard Community College, Titusville Campus 1311 North U.S. Highway 1, Titusville January 24 - 28, 2007 -- Titusville, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
Birding the Ends of the Earth
By Debra Shearwater
Perhaps few places on earth have attracted the intrepid explorer and adventurer as much as the Arctic and Antarctic. The ancient Greeks had developed a theory of a frigid northern landmass, Arktos, and hypothesized that this region must be counterbalanced by a frigid southern continent, Antarktos. Eventually, after many years of exploration, humankind survived the southern stormy seas and the rough, frigid elements of the pack ice to lay eyes upon these intriguing regions at the ends of planet earth.
Click for a Don Doolittle photo gallery. Antarctica, the White Continent, is a desolate region where ice covers more than 90% of the landmass. It is the last of the continents man has attempted to conquer. This land of multi-colored ice caps, glaciers and towering, snow-capped mountains is home to many species of birds that we often dream about. Sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, intrepid birders make their way across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we can encounter Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins, Adelie Penguins and Giant Petrels among the Southern Elephant Seals.
Traveling across the Scotia Sea, birders can thrill at the sights of the great albatrosses -- Wandering and Royal -- on the high seas that are their home. Here the Antarctic Convergence, the undulating belt of warm water meeting cold that forms the boundary of the largest ecosystem on earth, leads us to South Georgia. A huge subantarctic island, South Georgiais famous for its huge King Penguin colonies, along with Macaroni Penguins and breeding Light-mantled Albatrosses to name a few.
The Falkland Island archipelago has a long human history and a richavifaunal diversity. It is best known for its colonies of Black-browed Albatrosses and Gentoo and Rockhopper Penguins. Eighty percent of the global population of Black-browed Albatrosses breed in the Falklands. In addition to the birdlife, at least 16 species of whales have been recorded in the Falklands.
Birding down under, New Zealand's subantarctic islands present a treasure trove of seabirds, marine mammals and specialized flora, the megaherbs. In this region of the southern world, birders thrill to species found only here such as Erect-crested Penguin, Yellow-eyed Penguin, Buller's Shearwater and a variety of albatrosses. Here visitors will call in at such places as the Auckland Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, Antipodes Island and Bounty Islands. On Macquarie Island, the endemic Royal Penguin breeds.
At the opposite end of the earth, Arctic and North Atlantic travelers can set their eyes on surprising Iceland, a land of fire and ice. Here vast glaciers and red-hot lava form incredible scenery. Grimsey Island, off the north coast of Iceland, through which the Arctic Circle passes, is home to nesting Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills and murres. Moving toward the sparkling pack ice of Greenland, Dovekies bob like little auks amongst the ice cakes.
The Sea of Okhotsk, which borders Siberia, is one of the planet's least-explored and most remarkable destinations for untouched forests, pristine tundra and a staggering array of wildlife. Pods of orcas, basking sea lions and swarms of seabirds move across the landscape like a haze. Birders may encounter thousands, even millions of alcids in this region of the world, including Common and Thick-billed Murres, Crested Auklets, Parakeet Auklets, Least Auklets and Whiskered Auklets. On Russia's Kamchatka, the largest population of Brown Bears can be found amongst the active volcanoes of the Valley of the Geysers. This area is best personified by its icon, the enormous Steller's Sea-Eagle. A king (or queen) among raptors, this bird is so large and powerful that it can carry off a 40-pound baby seal.
Keynote Presentation: January 26, 6:15pm-7:45pm: BCC Auditorium; $10.00
2007 Festival Articles
2007 Keynote Speakers
Back to Festival HomePage
