KRÍA
Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Every year, from late April until mid-September, Icelandic coastal waters turn into a cornucopia of life both above and below the ocean surface.
While scanning around 360º, the ocean itself appears to me as an empty desert, without much going on. A desert full of water indeed, where maybe the magic awaits down there.
Searching around for any whale spout, I am equally interested in spoting black, elegant and slender silhouettes at the horizon for a simple mere sign of something. Something that could be corraling fish from underneath, attracting life from the skies to the waves.
If, finally we get too close to these flock of birds, beware of your passion. It may shift.
If, finally we get too close to these flock of birds, beware of your passion. It may shift.
As much as whales are enjoyable, witnessing these majestic small creatures outlining the shape of the mountains, can make one dissolve in the rhythm of Nature. A mindfulness state of wonder, where each and every next thought is only about predicting how That wingbeat will unfold. And if it will align with the mountain slope, the fractal Paradise !
Arctic terns, a fancy reward as described, are monogomous species and highly gregarious at breeding colonies.
Arctic terns, a fancy reward as described, are monogomous species and highly gregarious at breeding colonies.
If life is driven by light, then theses seabirds are the clear example of it. Such nomadic animal is a sun-loving being that literally lives two summer seasons. By skipping wintertime and so going from the boreal summer where they have their chicks, to the austral summer to change feathers, Arctic Terns in this constant up and down, from North Pole to the remote Southern region are believed to be accountable as the longest migration of any animal, from our smaller and smaller animal kingdom, in our Blue planet. Over 80.000km each year.
And if we were to consider the lifespan of an Arctic Tern - 25 to 30 years - and use some mathematics, then this little guy could even cover the distance of going to the moon and back 3 times. (use Frank Sinatra's vocal chord ~ Fly me to the moon).
This photo series are just a tribute of mine to such a resilient species.
But Icelanders go even one step further in paying them the precise homage, implementing its name in their vocabulary to refer to a nap: Kría.
Famous for its loooooong power naps in each migration when drifting up in the sky with the easy help of wind currents, everytime an Icelander wants to refresh its brain for a while, the following expression can be used: "Ég ætla að taka kriú". Due to language declination, the bird's name changes to refer to a specific subject, but the quote literally translates as " I am going to take a nap".
Winter in Iceland is slow and mellow. Beware in the use of the expression out of the season, dear tourist.
