Rising Tide Images
Transformative
A wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) fledgling idly waits at the entrance to its burrow. It watches the day sky for an adult to return from fishing and regurgitate a meal. At night it can see the procession of the stars and moon across the sky. Outfitted with most of its adult plumage and only a few remaining wisps of down, it will soon be abandoned. In about a week or so, with little more than an overwhelming urge programmed in its genes, it will learn to fly and navigate and fish on its own.
Transformative
A wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) fledgling idly waits at the entrance to its burrow. It watches the day sky for an adult to return from fishing and regurgitate a meal. At night it can see the procession of the stars and moon across the sky. Outfitted with most of its adult plumage and only a few remaining wisps of down, it will soon be abandoned. In about a week or so, with little more than an overwhelming urge programmed in its genes, it will learn to fly and navigate and fish on its own.