As its name suggests, the southern giant petrel indeed has significant dimensions: its torso is one meter in length, its weight is up to five kg, its wingspan reaches two meters and here it only slightly falls short of the "hero of the seas"—the albatross. These petrels spend most of the time in the sea, hunting fish, squid, small crustaceans, and even eggs and chicks of other birds. Particularly, they love savouring the remains of dead penguins, sea lions, and elephant seals. This species has incredible flying skills and stamina.
The best time to observe these giant seabirds is during their breeding season when they "nest" in colonies on the Patagonian coast of Argentina and Chile. In the last days of October, southern giant petrel female lay one egg in holes on the steep shores, they don't actually build nests. At the beginning of December, the first chicks hatch. The care of hatching is divided in half with the parents replacing each other every two weeks. While one parent heats the egg, the other heads out to sea for food. When the chick reaches the age of three months (from mid-March to early April), the parents leave it and fly away for good. The chicks have to leave and learn how to find food on their own. One essential thing to keep in mind while watching the birds is keeping the distance, as they might abandon the nest when threatened.
Besides the Patagonian Coast, another breeding colony is located on South Georgia Island. Outside of the breeding season, Southern Giant Petrels are also found in Antarctica, Falklands, and other islands around.
Practical info
When can Southern Giant Petrels be observed on the Patagonian coast?
On the Patagonian coast, Southern Giant Petrels can be observed during breeding season which lasts from November to March. During this time, female petrels lay one egg in holes on steep shores in late October. Around the beginning of December, the first chicks hatch, which the parents take turns caring for every two weeks. The chicks then leave the nest to learn to find food on their own when they reach three months old, which is from mid-March to early April. Show more
How do Southern Giant Petrels reproduce on Patagonian shores?
Southern Giant Petrels reproduce in holes on Patagonian coastal cliffs, starting in late October. Nests are not constructed as the female petrels just lay an egg in a hole. By the beginning of December, the chicks hatch and both parents take turns caring for them every two weeks. The chicks leave the nest when they are three months old in mid-March to early April and learn to hunt for food on their own. Show more
Besides the Patagonian coast, where else do Southern Giant Petrels breed?
Other than the Patagonian coast, Southern Giant Petrels also breed on South Georgia Island. During non-breeding seasons, they can be found around the Falklands, Antarctica, and nearby islands. These areas possess suitable food sources and oceanic conditions to support populations of these petrels. Show more
What is included in the diet of Southern Giant Petrels?
The Southern Giant Petrels' diet includes mostly fish but also small crustaceans, squid, eggs, and other birds' chicks. They scavenge on dead seals, sea lions, and penguins too. They can spot food from afar because of their keen sense of smell. Their digestive systems possess remarkable strength in processing raw meat and decomposed tissues, making these petrels efficient scavengers. Show more
What precautions should guests take when observing Southern Giant Petrels?
To keep Southern Giant Petrels safe while watching them, visitors must maintain a safe distance to avoid causing the petrels to flee. A viewing distance of 15 meters or more is recommended. Visitors should also avoid disrupting the petrels' food source by staying away from penguin or seal breeding colonies. Not leaving litter or harmful objects that could disturb other wildlife or the habitat is crucial. These simple measures help protect Southern Giant Petrels and the ecosystem. Show more
