The Giant Petrels Of King George Island - Nexta Expeditions
The Giant Petrels of King George Island

The Giant Petrels of King George Island

Antarctica is undeniably one of the world’s premier birding destinations.

Nowhere else can you spot penguins, storm petrels, skuas, and kelp gulls all within the same view through your binoculars. Regardless of your level of birding interest or experience, witnessing these birds in their natural environment is always inspiring.

However, one bird species stands out among the rest.

The giant petrel can often be seen awkwardly moving along the beaches of King George Island, as if it has just learned to walk. More frequently, though, it is observed gliding through the air on its impressive wingspan of 180 to 210 cm (71 to 83 inches).

With its striking grey eyes and tube-nosed beak, the giant petrel of King George Island is a remarkable sight, no matter how you encounter it.

blog-image

King George Island’s tubenose seabirds

Sometimes called “stinkers” because they scavenge on anything dead, dying, or weak, giant petrels are the largest birds in the Southern Hemisphere.

There are currently two recognized species of giant petrels: northern giant petrels and southern giant petrels. These species are nearly identical, though they exhibit several different color variations, or “morphs.”

These morphs can range from white to dark grey.

Since giant petrels spend most of their lives at sea, they have evolved unique adaptations: Their beaks feature tube-shaped nostrils that filter salt from seawater, allowing them to drink fresh water. This adaptation has led to the term “tubenoses.” Other tubenoses include shearwaters, fulmars, albatrosses, storm petrels, and diving petrels.

blog-image

Giant petrel breeding rituals

Giant petrels are solitary creatures, spending months alone feeding at sea. But when the austral summer arrives in October, they migrate to the circumpolar regions of Antarctica to breed.

Preferring privacy, they nest several hundred meters apart in colonies that have been used for generations.

Building a nest is a simple task, usually involving the rearrangement of a few stones. A few weeks after establishing a nesting site, the eggs begin to appear. These eggs can be around 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter, resembling dinosaur eggs.

Giant petrels lay only one egg per year, making it crucial for the parents to be vigilant in protecting their vulnerable young.

However, giant petrel parents are sensitive to disturbances and may abandon their egg if they sense danger. Evolution has taught them that their own survival is more important than their unhatched egg, as they can always nest again the following year.

blog-image

Working with giant petrels on King George Island

The austral summer (October to March) provides mild enough conditions for scientists to study giant petrels on King George Island.

At the start of the breeding season, scientists monitor giant petrels from a safe distance using binoculars and high-powered spotting scopes. They then take a census of the colonies, map them, and compare the data to historical records.

Occasionally, a giant petrel colony will overlap with a penguin colony, making disturbances from penguins (and visiting humans) a challenging issue.

In such cases, it’s crucial for scientists to approach the giant petrel colony slowly and avoid close contact. Giant petrels may emit a low “uuuurrr” sound if they feel threatened.

blog-image

Giant petrel chicks

When giant petrel chicks begin to emerge from their eggs, it’s time for the parents to start feeding them.

Feeding is a round-the-clock task that involves catching fish at sea, scavenging for dead seals along the beaches, and searching penguin colonies for unattended eggs or chicks. Giant petrel chicks enjoy some of the best dining in Antarctica.

When disturbed, giant petrel chicks have a defense mechanism known as “gakking.”

Gakking is the sound they make as they projectile vomit at predators (or unwitting scientists). The fluid they expel is a mix of digestive juices and food remnants, producing an unpleasant odor.

For conservation purposes, scientists must continue to study giant petrel chicks. Researchers fit the young birds with a metal band around their leg, with a number corresponding to the year they were banded.

Each year, when scientists return to collect data, they try to read these band codes to determine which giant petrels have returned to breed.

blog-image

The conservation of giant petrels

From 1997 to 1998, thousands of giant petrels were killed in illegal longline fishing operations in the Southern Ocean.

The long lines were intended for Patagonian toothfish but ended up catching over 4,000 giant petrels and numerous other seabirds and marine mammals. This fishing method has since been regulated, allowing the giant petrel population to recover.

Although giant petrels are no longer in immediate danger of extinction, the increasing presence of marine plastics and other debris continues to pose a threat to their populations.

blog-image

King George Island (and other places to see giant petrels)

King George Island, the largest in the Shetland chain, is an Antarctic island perfectly situated within the breeding range of giant petrels.

This makes King George Island one of the most reliable places to observe these birds, though they are also commonly seen in most coastal areas of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. They are also abundant in the Drake Passage.

If you’re heading south for an exciting Antarctica cruise, be sure to keep your binoculars handy!

blog-image

Title image by Thomas Laumeyer

Best Deals

Related Trips

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Puerto Madryn

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special

calendar22 Oct 2025 - 11 Nov 2025
clock21 Days / 20 Nights
From $ 14.250 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar11 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage

calendar17 Nov 2025 - 27 Nov 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 7.750 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar21 Nov 2025 - 01 Dec 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar27 Nov 2025 - 16 Dec 2025
clock20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 14.800 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar27 Nov 2025 - 09 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar01 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar09 Dec 2025 - 21 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar11 Dec 2025 - 29 Dec 2025
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 14.500 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar16 Dec 2025 - 28 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar21 Dec 2025 - 08 Jan 2026
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 15.600 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar28 Dec 2025 - 09 Jan 2026
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 10.550 per person

Blog
go-leftgo-right

Visa to Argentina for Antarctic Expedition Travelers (2025 Guide) - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Visa to Argentina for Antarctic Expedition Travelers (2025 Guide)

Argentina is the main gateway for travelers heading to Antarctica, with most expedition cruises departing from the southern city of Ushuaia. Whether you’re flying in through Buenos Aires or connecting domestically, knowing Argentina’s visa requirements is critical for a smooth journey before and after your polar adventure.
Solargraphy & Pin Hole photography in the Arctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Solargraphy & Pin Hole photography in the Arctic

Antarctica’s Hourglass Dolphin - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Antarctica’s Hourglass Dolphin

Though hourglass dolphins are especially rare, they’re actually not a threatened or endangered species.
The disastrous expedition in the Arctic west - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The disastrous expedition in the Arctic west

In 1902, Otto Sverdrup, captain of the Fram on Nansen’s expedition, led his own Arctic expedition to the north of Canada. Over the period of the expedition, which started in 1898, Sverdrup and his 15-man crew charted over 250,000 square kilometres of the Arctic using the Fram and sledges. During the expedition Ellesmere Island’s west coast was explored and new islands discovered.
The Evolving Shipboard Eco-traveler - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Evolving Shipboard Eco-traveler

Feeling stuck in the monotony of everyday life? Looking for a change of scenery? Look no further! Most of us spend our lives on solid ground, despite our bodies being composed of 71.5% water. You'd think we'd have a natural inclination to be in or on the water! So why not try something different? Consider an Arctic holiday adventure on the same waters that famous explorers once navigated!
The History of Antarctica in Maps - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The History of Antarctica in Maps

Long before human eyes ever beheld Antarctica, the ancients were convinced that it existed – or at least something like it.
All About Ice: Glaciers and Icebergs of the Arctic and Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

All About Ice: Glaciers and Icebergs of the Arctic and Antarctica

Long before human eyes ever beheld Antarctica, the ancients were convinced that it existed – or at least something like it.
How and When Did Greenland Become Covered in Ice? - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

How and When Did Greenland Become Covered in Ice?

Although it may be hard to believe, there was a time when Greenland was more green than icy. Today, those who embark on a Greenland expedition are greeted with views of the Greenland ice sheet and the marine life that thrives in this region, including seals and whales. Polar bears are also prominent in the northern and eastern parts of Greenland. These animals have adapted to their environment, but a few million years ago, the massive island would not have been as welcoming to them.
Arctic Flowers, Trees, and Other Plant Life - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Arctic Flowers, Trees, and Other Plant Life

When many people think of the Arctic, they probably imagine a stark white wasteland devoid of anything except snow, glaciers, and the occasional far-wandering polar bear.
Top 10 Antarctic Attractions - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Top 10 Antarctic Attractions

There’s a reason people go to such lengths to visit Antarctica, and its abundance of whales, seals, penguins, and seabirds are only part of the polar story.
17 Reasons to Cruise the Falklands - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

17 Reasons to Cruise the Falklands

Maybe you’ve already marveled at the colossal penguin colonies of South Georgia, sailed among the plunging seals of the Antarctic Peninsula, and watched whales in the Weddell Sea lunge among titanic tabular icebergs.
Under the Greenland Ice Sheet - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Under the Greenland Ice Sheet

Anyone who ventures to the right part of the globe can encounter vast amounts of ice, but a Greenland cruise offers something truly unique: ice sculptures hidden beneath the northern ice sheet. Scientists once thought these sculptures were rocky hills buried in ice, similar to the Ghost Mountains in Antarctica. However, it turns out that Mother Nature has crafted one of the most exclusive art exhibits in the world. These sculptures are not visible from the surface, but some scientists have managed to get a sneak peek using radar equipment.
Life in the Polar Regions - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Life in the Polar Regions

Polar bears in the Arctic, penguins in Antarctica.
The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island

If you know anything about Ascension Island, which is unlikely, it probably has to do with the green turtle breeding population that exists there.
What the ice reveals about Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

What the ice reveals about Antarctica

The continent you'll explore during your Antarctica cruise is far more than just an ice-covered land with penguins, whales, and seals. Beneath the thick ice lie hidden freshwater lakes teeming with thousands of microbes, hinting at a diverse array of life. In 2013, a team of researchers obtained the first uncontaminated water sample ever retrieved directly from an Antarctic lake.
Hondius Photography and Video Workshops - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Hondius Photography and Video Workshops

There’s no shortage of great things to say about a Hondius expedition cruise, but among the best are the free video and photography workshops offered during some of this ship’s voyages. These informative, interactive, highly useful supplements allow you to not only capture your memories in the best way possible but also make your friends back home maddeningly jealous.
The Ultimate Traveler’s Guide to the Arctic and Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Ultimate Traveler’s Guide to the Arctic and Antarctica

Sunrises or sunsets? Coffee or tea? Polar bears or penguins?
Greenland's History: When Vikings Ruled the Ice Age - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Greenland's History: When Vikings Ruled the Ice Age

A Greenland cruise offers a journey into a rich history filled with intriguing details that captivate polar expedition enthusiasts. Among the most fascinating historical aspects is the fact that Vikings once ruled this land. Anthropologists and climate scientists have long studied Greenland to pinpoint when and why the Vikings left. Recent findings have shed new light on this historical culture.
Polar bear feast - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar bear feast

The polar bear was relishing his meal; the snow and his face were turning red from the blood. As we observed him eating, our own stomachs began to grumble. It was time for lunch.
Flowers in Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Flowers in Antarctica

The polar regions are among the most inhospitable environments for plants and animals. Life here faces numerous challenges, including low temperatures, high winds, solar radiation, and cell freezing. The Antarctic continent experiences extreme conditions, with darkness during winter and continuous light during summer. Winter temperatures can drop to -60°C or lower.