The Hitch Hiker
1/2
This is a snowy sheathbill (Chionis albus), is the only land bird native to the Antarctic Peninsula.
So why Hitch Hiker?
The bird primarily lives on the southern tip of South America, but goes to Antarctica to breed.
The bird does not have webbed feet so it cannot land on the water. The distance to the nearest land, The Falkland Islands is too far without landing.
So the snowy Sheathbill Hitch Hikes on passing boats going that way.
Posted in The Wild Photographer
4
The title lands once you read why. I'd never considered what a land bird does when the crossing is too far and the feet won't let you rest on water, but boats as the bridge between breeding ground and home feels obvious once you say it.
And of course, given the climate the ships run a perfect schedule to and from Antarctica
The timing is almost cruel then. A bird that needs the boat, and the boat that runs exactly when it needs to. That kind of dependency is what makes the image hold.