Johnny Rooks Stalk Fur Seal Pup | National Geographic

it’s the height of summer on the

it’s the height of summer on the Falkland Islands and a group of

Falkland Islands and a group of

Falkland Islands and a group of feathered pirates takes wing their quest

feathered pirates takes wing their quest

feathered pirates takes wing their quest satisfying their hunger by any and all

satisfying their hunger by any and all

satisfying their hunger by any and all means available which means terrorizing

means available which means terrorizing

means available which means terrorizing their neighbors but just who is this

their neighbors but just who is this

their neighbors but just who is this masked bandit he’s none other than the

masked bandit he’s none other than the

masked bandit he’s none other than the striated Caracara also known as Johnny

striated Caracara also known as Johnny

striated Caracara also known as Johnny rook

rook

rook despite their sometimes unsavory

despite their sometimes unsavory

despite their sometimes unsavory reputation

reputation

reputation Johnny rook is among the most

Johnny rook is among the most

Johnny rook is among the most intelligent of the bird species they’re

intelligent of the bird species they’re

intelligent of the bird species they’re fearless daring and famously curious

fearless daring and famously curious

fearless daring and famously curious they’re also one of the rarest they

they’re also one of the rarest they

they’re also one of the rarest they exist only on the Falkland Islands and a

exist only on the Falkland Islands and a

exist only on the Falkland Islands and a few other small islands off the coast of

few other small islands off the coast of

few other small islands off the coast of South America the population is thought

South America the population is thought

South America the population is thought to be less than 2,500 Johnny rooks will

to be less than 2,500 Johnny rooks will

to be less than 2,500 Johnny rooks will eat just about anything but chicks are a

eat just about anything but chicks are a

eat just about anything but chicks are a favorite

they share these islands with the

they share these islands with the world’s largest breeding population of

world’s largest breeding population of

world’s largest breeding population of endangered black-browed albatross and

endangered black-browed albatross and

endangered black-browed albatross and this season’s brood has arrived

young gangs of Johnny rooks are even

young gangs of Johnny rooks are even bolder going after prey much larger than

bolder going after prey much larger than

bolder going after prey much larger than themselves this Johnny rook is resolute

themselves this Johnny rook is resolute

themselves this Johnny rook is resolute using his long talons to dig into the

using his long talons to dig into the

using his long talons to dig into the fur seal pups back he will not give up a

whole gang of years wanting a piece of

whole gang of years wanting a piece of the action

but the pups cries don’t go unheeded and

but the pups cries don’t go unheeded and mother comes to the rescue

their plot foiled the birds take to the

their plot foiled the birds take to the wing again and wait for the next

wing again and wait for the next

wing again and wait for the next opportunity