Photo of the Day - Cocks of the Dogyard

At a first glance, it appears that eiders are nesting in strange places. One example: at least 50 pairs that are nesting right next to the main dogyard in Longyearbyen. A busy place, where dogs are barking constantly and peace from people is just a remote fantasy. Eider males are making sure that their females are not having fun with other guys. They'll patrol next to the nesting females until their chicks have hatched, howling to the sky and attacking any other male, who dares to enter their territory. When the chicks are hatching the cocks take of in groups and go feeding on scallops in the sea for the rest of the summer. The females can take care of the offspring.

And why are they nesting in such a place? There is a good reason. The arctic foxes are afraid of dogs and won't dare to come even close to the place. Those few nests taken by accidentally unleashed dogs are a small harm compared to that destruction one fox could do.