The Ultimate Price for Trespassing (very graphic)

[Fabs Forns]

I can only find a logical explanation to this, and it is that this poor chick ventured into the adult's territory, and we've seen them (adults) gang up and beat chicks up with no mercy. I can't imagine this begin his own chick, but who knows. The chick got shaken to death and the episode lasted for about an hour. Needless to say we were really shocked to witness this.

Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens (mm): 840
ISO: 1000
Aperture: 11
Shutter: 1/500

[David Thomasson]

I can only find a logical explanation to this, and it is that this poor chick ventured into the adult's territory, and we've seen them (adults) gang up and beat chicks up with no mercy. I can't imagine this begin his own chick, but who knows.

According to this account (http://books.google.com/books?id=B--yUHIvaKsC&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=skimmer+territorial+kill+chick&source=bl&ots=P8A4qSs0bn&sig=XxG166YNDNQpJPLdJu4yXjXefkU&hl=en&ei=He5ATNWJEIGB8gaMmKQF&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=skimmer%20territorial%20kill%20chick&f=false), the chick most likely wandered into the wrong territory.

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4/skimmersb.jpg

[Fabs Forns]

Thanks, David, that's what we though. Brutal!!!!

[Ramon M. Casares]

Sad moment? I wouldn´t know...
Great natural story here, wild, wild, wild.
Nice exposure control, and detail. Congrats my friend.

[Alfred Forns]

Thanks for the explanation Dave !!! At the end of the episode the adult left flying with the dead chick !! For a time I thought it was trying to eat it but not sure !!!

Excellent capture Fabs, like the separation and how well the poor chick is presented !!

[Gen Benjamin]

We witnessed a similar incident last year at Nickerson beach, it was so very sad to watch. I know that nature has a broader way of seeing things than I am capable of but still it's hard to comprehend and even harder to witness.
Gen:(

[Grace Scalzo]

I don't necessarily like to witness this, but I do believe that it is as it should be.

Very well photographed, Fabs.

[Danny J Brown]

Wow -- that is brutal. Great catch, Fabs.

[Simon Bennett]

Most interesting natural history well captured Fabs.

[Ken Watkins]

At times nature is extremely brutal and this is one of them.

Whilst I cannot pretend to enjoy the image it is well captured and interesting to see.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Great natural history moment captured well. Light was not perfect but the moment was definitely worth capturing

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Brutal indeed, and thanks David for the excerpt, explains a lot.

The image has a slight green cast on my monitor.

[Susan Candelario]

Hi Fabs,
Good capture of one of natures brutal and sad moments. We have witness this often at Nickerson, which was hard to see. Last year we saw a skimmer after killing the chick feed it to his own chick. It took his chick more than an hour to get the dead chick down. We thought it was going to choke. I did read that when this has taken place some chicks have choked to death. It was very disturbing to witness.

[Krijn Trimbos]

Nature can be tough sometiimes! Great moment captured though....Love the pose of the adult and the way the chick is positioned in its beak looks dramatic. Agree with Axel on the greencast and would probably enhance the catchlight a bit more. Well done Fabs!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Well you know me Fab and I can not imagine having been there but so interesting hoe nature takes care of the balance in many different ways. Incredible capture and thanks for all the background info. Your series has been awesome my friend !!!!

[arash_hazeghi]

dramatic photo Fabs, haven't you heard nature is cruel!

[Hendri Venter]

Thanks for sharing this Fabs. Its brutal but thats nature...