It is interesting to note that when the chick reaches the age of about 6 months, he or she fledges. After testing the wind at their take-off point, each chick will eventually commit by running towards the edge of a cliff and taking off for the very first time. Once they have lifted off, they fly over the horizon and start searching for where to fish and to live on the open water. This is remarkable since they have only eaten regurgitated food from the parents, and they never have seen what their food (squids, fish, etc.) looks like in the wild.
Once a chick has fledged, he or she will remain on the open water, without touching land, for 3-5 years. They return to land only to court and breed, producing one egg. They mate for life and return to the same location each year - often near the site they were born and raised.
Uploaded on 8/16/2012 11:25:23 PM

© Cindy Bendush
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