The Barfer Birds don’t just use foul behavior to hunt.


Some, like the Arctic terns, also peck and claw to protect themselves and their young. It’s hard to beat the northern fulmar when it comes to bad behavior, though. T is seabird vomits. And its vomit is deadly. If another bird gets too close to a fulmar’s


nest, it better watch out. T is bird can spew a mouthful of sticky, stinky vomit up to 1.8 m. It can barf several times in a minute. Even its chicks can vomit. T at sounds gross. It’s also dangerous for


any predator that gets too close. T is liquid weapon is made from the fulmar’s stomach acids and the remains of its fishy meals. When the vomit splashes on another bird, that bird is in serious trouble. T e fulmar’s vomit glues the other bird’s


feathers together. It’s so sticky, the bird can’t clean its feathers. Dirty feathers are a death sentence. T ey can’t repel water, so the bird gets cold quickly. Unable to fly, swim, or stay warm, the drenched bird oſt en dies. Meanwhile, the fulmar’s nest is safe.


The Decorator T e behaviors of some birds are hard to


explain. T e crested bellbird of Australia is a good example. T is bird lines the rim of its nest with live, toxic caterpillars. Scientists aren’t sure why. First, a bellbird gathers twigs, bark, and


leaves to build its nest in a tree. Its nest needs one more thing, though. So the bird hunts for a special kind of hairy caterpillar. T e hairs of these caterpillars are hollow spines filled with poison. Anything that touches the spines gets stung, but not the bellbird. T e bird pinches each caterpillar with its


bill. T is paralyzes them. Now, the caterpillars can’t crawl away. T en the bird places the live caterpillars around the rim of its nest. Some scientists think that the caterpillars


protect the nest. Predators don’t want to be stung by the caterpillars, so they’ll think twice before stealing the bird’s eggs. T e bellbird also may be trying to hide the


nest. Or it could be collecting the caterpillars as a snack for the chicks. Whatever the reason, it’s a strange way to decorate a nest.


A fulmar spews deadly vomit to defend itself and its nest.


8 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXTREME EXPLORER


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