QUESTION:
Do petrels eat the same things that penguins eat?

        Charteka, Ms. Bettye F. Wingate's Class, TX



ANSWER from Donna Patterson, Research Assistant, Dr. Fraser's Team
            Palmer Station, Antarctica
            Fri, 21 Feb 1997 16:10:33 -0500


Hello Charteka,

Sometimes petrels and penguins eat the same things, but usually 
petrels find their food by scavenging.  Most penguins eat a 
combination of krill and fish which they catch by diving below the 
surface of the water.  Giant petrels, for example, cannot dive to the 
same depths as a penguin, but they can take krill and fish that are 
close to the surface.  They use up more energy catching several small 
food items, so it is beneficial to find larger, more concentrated 
sources of food.  It is common to see a group of Giant petrels 
feeding on a dead seal where they can fill up with a big meal. 

Thanks for your question!
Donna