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The ThoraxAuk Postmortem StudiesOn Triangle Island, off the Coast of British Columbia, Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles hunt seabirds such as Cassin’s Auklets or Rhinoceros Auklets as they travel back and forth to their nests. Although there are millions of seabirds to choose from, the predators do not have it all there own way. The seabirds are strong and fast fliers that are difficult to catch and they are most active during the hours of darkness. Even when seriously wounded, a seabird may struggle and escape, only to die later. I collected a handful of those unlucky birds and conducted a post mortem examination to determine the actual cause of death. Photographs of those dissections show how muscles and sheets of connective tissue linked the hypapophyses to other parts of the body. Warning: The following gallery contains graphic subject matter. View at your own discretion.
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