In Search of Giant Squid
As I sit at the table overlooking the Kaikoura harbor, I am continuously
distracted by the activity on the water just 100 feet from our window.
I've been watching a pair of cormorant-like birds fishing for their
lunch. I guess their tummies are full, for now they are sitting on the
rocks, wings spread out as they dry them in the sun. The tide pools at
low tide are fascinating to comb through, and Clyde is forever hopeful
he'll find a tiny octopus hiding under a rock.
The mountains on the other side of the harbor are constantly changing before our eyes. Right now there is a milk mustache of clouds hovering halfway between the beach and the mountain tops. The gentle westerly breeze is slowly nudging it along the ridge. An hour from now the scene will be totally different.
The phone has been ringing constantly. The motel owners are fascinated
with all the attention he's (Clyde) been getting and continually run up
to our room with new faxess for us. He's been running on adrenaline
ever since he arrived and it'll get worse before it gets better as soon
as all the participants start arriving.
Smithsonian Giant Squid Overview Page
gene carl feldman / gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov