Home » Antarctica » Baby, Baby, It's a Wild Wor January 10, 2004

Petermann Island was full of -- you guessed it! -- more penguins (even headless ones :-). Both Adelies and Gentoos with multiple rookeries spread out across the terrain. But just when you think you're jaded and tired of the little black-and-white fellows, you discover something new. These rookeries were full of chicks at various stages of development.

Baby, Baby, It's a Wild Wor January 10, 2004

Ttrealtravels
2005-12-24 23:47:58

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Petermann Island was full of -- you guessed it! -- more penguins (even headless ones :-). Both Adelies and Gentoos with multiple rookeries spread out across the terrain. But just when you think you're jaded and tired of the little black-and-white fellows, you discover something new. These rookeries were full of chicks at various stages of development.

Near our landing spot, Gentoos had tiny little chicks. Miniature fluffballs tucked neatly under the parents' bodies, barely visible and hard to catch on camera. Both female and male penguins have a breeding pouch. It's an area at the bottom front of their bodies, like a slit between their dense feathers. They open the pouch to envelop an egg or small chick. I love how properly equal these birds are! Both parents care for their young in a tender and solicitous manner that humans would do well to imitate.

In the foothills, Adelies had more well-developed chicks. These bigger, gray down-covered chicks were probably a third to half the size of the adults. Some already had pale bellies and darker gray backs. Still, they were immature. When they flapped their wings, you could see how soft and noodley the chicks' wings were compared to the stiff, sharp paddles of the adults.

Love and Theft in Tuxedos

We trekked off towards the face of a glacier over a deep green pool. On a small, rocky prominence, five penguins bickered. Four were on their nests, and one was the mate of a brooder. This mate kept circling the tiny peak, trying to steal pebbles from other nests to bulwark her mate's encampment. She was especially fond of thieving from another nest on the far side of the narrow rock. Naturally, this did not please the other penguin! In fact, it made that nester pretty paranoid, always craning her neck around to watch for or peck at the burglar. It was a hilarious little melodrama amongst this isolated colony of Gentoos.

A light jingle-bell snow began to fall, but it was still a mild morning. There was no wind, and that makes all the difference here. Without wind, I felt comfortable without a hat and with my parka unzipped. Calm, clear days seem rare in Antarctica, so enjoy them when you can.