Question: What is the most interesting type of animal you have come across?

Renata Medeiros answered on 25 Jun 2013:

I do think the seabirds I study are amongst the most interesting animals in the world but I believe when you start studying something, asking questions about it and getting answers, starting to understand how it works, almost anything will seem interesting, even a rock can be fascinating!
The seabirds I study are called storm petrels, they are really small for a seabird (fit on the palm of your hand) and yet they can live up to 30 years (most small animals live only 1-2 years)! They do not come to land at all for the first 1-3 years of age and then they only go to very remote islands once a year to find a partner and lay their eggs. I find it amazing how they can survive at sea, with the heat of the sun and the storms, with no shelter and only the water to rest in. They drink seawater because they have a special way of getting rid of the salt and they produce an oil that they spread on their feathers with their beak to keep them waterproof – it also gives them a really special musty smell and a soft velvety touch. They also have a good sense of smell, pretty unique with birds, and can find food that way. There are many other interesting things about them that you can look and if you ever go on a boat don’t forget to look out for these little dark seabirds, flying quickly, just above the water, almost looking like they are actually walking on it!