Page 199 - 2003 - Atlantic Islands

interesting questions regarding these lovely and fascinating birds. Questions

concerning how they find food at sea (sight and smell because the micro-organisms

they eat normally emit a chemical complex which has a definite smell that hovers

above them just over the sea surface), how they sleep (in catnaps when they touch

down on the ocean), and how far they range in foraging both when they are alone

and when they are feeding chicks (amazingly long distances up to 7000 miles when

feeding their young).

Then it was time to get serious about packing. So we went back to the cabin and tried

to get organized. We did pretty well by using our small day-packs as well as the

additional small “duffel” bags we had brought just in case. Got most of the clothing as

well as the rain-gear and wintry supplies into the regular suitcases and then we

figured out how to stuff some of the things in between the softer clothes.

We went to lunch and ate inside since the weather still is not warm enough to make

us want to sit on the aft deck. Then it was back to the packing exercises before 3

o’clock when Marco and Patricia were giving their presentation “Life in the Freezer,” a

pictorial and talking show about their time living in Antarctica for doctoral work and

then later as research scientists. They are both very amusing speakers and it is

amazing how much more confidence they now exhibit in their command of English.

We enjoyed both their slides and their stories.

At 4:30 (thank goodness we were done packing by then) we went to see a

documentary filmed by Errol Morris on “Clyde Roper, The Squid Hunter.” It was

cleverly done and really caught the essence of Clyde’s public personality. The

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