"On Ross Island, Antarctica (78 deg S), this past austral summer, we observed two unusual phenomena in regard to the biology of South Polar Skuas. ENSO may well be responsible, as this species "winters" in warmer climes, i.e. equatorial Pacific and North Pacific etc. The first thing was late arrival of birds (ages 30-39 years old, deduced from banding) for breeding. A hefty proportion arrived too late to breed and several lost the territories they had been holding for decades. The second was increased mortality, although I'll have to hold off a bit on this until next year, in case many did not bother to show up for breeding. In any case, the usual adult survival rate is on the order of 95% per year, but on the basis of returns, adult survival this past year may be on the order of 60%. "--David Ainley <<harveyecology@worldnet.att.net>