Chrysti the Wordsmith > Radio Scripts

The jaeger has a well-deserved reputation as an aerobatic pirate of the high seas. This agile marine bird that generally resembles its close relative, the gull in size and coloration. In flight, however, the jaeger is sleek and streamlined with the long, pointed wings of a falcon and stinger-like central tail feathers.

The jaeger nests in the Arctic during the northern summer, but migrates to the open oceans of the southern hemisphere for the winter, making its living as a "kleptoparasite," stealing food from other birds. Darting and swooping, jaegers harass not only their gulls cousins, but other species too, like terns and kittiwakes, pestering them in mid-flight until they finally drop their prey. The jaeger then dives for the food as it plunges to the ground.

This avian species, specially equipped for aerial harassment, was given its common name in the 19th century. Jaeger is a German word that means "hunter," from the verb jagen, "chase, pursue, drive."

Interestingly, the term yacht is related to the name of this bird that hunts and steals. A yacht is etymologically a boat for "chasing" others. The antecedent of yacht is jaghktschip, literally "chase ship."

Radio Script > Jaeger