What is going on here?

[Mosby]

Link to tweet

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. That's a skua gull. They are predators that will kill and eat penguin chicks.

The smaller adult adelie penguin, no doubt recognizing the skua as an enemy of all penguins, is defending the emperor chicks.

[Mosby]

2. Wow! Thanks!

[ret5hd]

3. Emperors Lives Matter!

[jpak]

4. It's a Giant Petrel attacking chicks.

They are predators and scavengers.

The adele was attracted to the commotion - they are excitable like that.

[Ferrets are Cool]

5. That penguin showed more empathy than OrangeAnus ever showed in his entire life.

[cab67]

6. I agree that it's a giant petrel.

Petrels are "tubenoses" - they have a bony tube extending from each nostril for a salt gland to get rid of excess salt.

Gulls (including skuas) don't have these.

That being said, skuas are just as happy to eat penguin chicks as large tubenoses.

[Mosby]

7. Thanks for the info! nt