I learned a new word today. Pelagic. P-E-L-A-G-I-C.

[KittyWampus]

It means that which is found in open ocean away from land.

Learned it in reference to a Little Auk (related to puffin and not unlike a penguin) that was found stranded in our area due to a storm last week.

I love learning new words.

[XemaSab]

1. Among birding circles, it's a common word

used also to describe a trip to look for said pelagic species.

"I am going on a pelagic this weekend." :D

[KittyWampus]

2. that is great information. Thanks!

[Schema Thing]

3. etymology

from Pirates who lost their peg-leg and found it floating in the ocean with a bird perched thereon.

struth.

[Frank Cannon]

6. I figured it was from the Greek "pelagos" for sea

The same root as the word archipelago. :shrug:

[driver8]

4. Hey, a FB friend of mine from Long Island found an Auk after a storm about a week ago.

I wonder if it's the same bird!

[KittyWampus]

8. the guy who made the local paper works at a fitness center.

[Frank Cannon]

5. Weird. I heard this exact same word for the very first time last night.

On an Australian shortwave program at about 3:00 in the morning. The program was about Polynesian "wayfinders" who navigate boats thousands of miles with no navigational aids whatsoever.

Weird.

[KittyWampus]

9. I studies anthropology. Some of those indigenous mariners who boat where there're island chains

can use the interference patterns in the water ripples.

[Frank Cannon]

10. They described all of the things those guys used instead of compasses, etc.

From the directions that different types of birds were flying, the locations of various stars in the sky, cloud formations, size and shape of the waves they encountered... And their navigation was all by dead reckoning; they could only keep track of where they started and EVERYTHING that had happened over hundreds, even thousands, of miles. The wayfinders literally couldn't sleep for hours, even days, to stay on top of all of it and make sure they got to where they were going.

It was really a great lecture. I was actually glad to have insomnia! (And a shortwave radio.)

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. Oh, like the tanker whose front fell off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-QNAwUdHUQ

:rofl:

[MilesColtrane]

11. "I shouldn't have eaten that chili. My pelagic is acting up."