Petermann Island
Breakfast, and then put on all the layers of clothing, boots, into the zodiac for the Petermann Island landing in a cove originally called "Port Circumcision." Adelies, Gentoos and Blue-eyed shags (I never got close enough to see the blue eyes). Susan's wake-up announcemen this morning included the magic words: "sunny and dead calm seas."
There are approximately 390 pairs of Adelies...View image... and 2,700 pairs of Gentoos on Petermann. The Gentoos are multiplying and traveling further south perhaps because they are advantageous feeders. It takes 4-6 weeks of incubation before penguin babies are born. November 18th was the first egg and Penguins will lay again if they lose one. They usually lay two eggs and after two months of feeding, the babies go in the water never seeing parents again. Penguins also make great snacks for Leopard Seals if any are around.
There were many Skuas flying over looking for a chance to swoop down on an unguarded nest and snarf a penguin egg (or a baby penguin when they hatch)...one of their favorite foods...
The penguins were attention-getting (as usual) to walk among. They completely ignored the people milling around, cameras clicking, talking, crunching through the snow and went about their business of building pebble nests, waddling to and from the sea, taking penguin trails up and down through the snow, and following in each other's steps. They don't fear us because we're not predators.
The really filthy ones, covered in penguin poop were just off their "sitting on nest shift" and heading to the sea for a needed clean-up. The spanking clean penguins had just returned.
Back on ship and time for some of the afternoon's cakes, hot coffee, cocoa and share photos of the day... (my favorite was a delicious apple cake...)
