Stefan Christmann's Image

The low sun casts a gentle light as this chick, just a few weeks old, tilts its face up towards its parent. Stefan had been concentrating on chicks pestering their parents but never knew what he would capture – the parent might feed the youngster, preen its downy feathers, caress it with its beak or simply lower its head and call.

Both parents share duties once the chick has hatched, interacting constantly with their single offspring. Later the parents will leave the chick with other chicks in a crèche while they commute to distant fishing grounds. They will rely on unique vocal calls to find their chick again among the thousands.