Wildlife on Elephant Island in Antarctica

A Snowy sheathbill flies over a Chinstrap penguin colony on Elephant Island, Antarctica.
Snowy sheathbill are scavenger birds who eat guano, helping to clear up penguin colonies. But they will also steal penguin eggs or small chicks if they get a chance. They often nest next or inside penguin colonies. Penguin parents will react to any bird that comes closer to their chicks as they are dangerous predators.
Greenpeace is in the Antarctic to investigate the impacts of the climate crisis as part of the Protect the Oceans Expedition, a year long pole to pole ship tour, campaigning for the establishment of ocean sanctuaries to safeguard this frozen region and its penguins, seals and whales, and to help address the climate emergency.

(This picture was taken in 2020 during the Antarctic leg of the Pole to Pole expedition under the Dutch permit number RWS-2019/40813)