Image courtesy of Jean Pennycook

From: Jean Pennycook
Antarctica , February 8, 2006

Goodbye from Antarctica

This is the last postcard for this season. We have folded our tents, packed our equipment and will be leaving the ice soon for our summer homes in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been a great year at Cape Royds Adelie penguin breeding colony, the chicks were above average in weight gain throughout the season. Many nests failed, but many succeeded in raising 2 fat chicks. Before we left, we banded 300 fledglings and will be anxious to see how many return in following years. This last image of Antarctica is one of my favorites. The adult penguins on this ice floe in front of the iceberg use this place just off shore to get away from the incessant demand for food from their chicks. Non-swimming chicks can not make it here; swimming chicks are on their own. It's a peaceful place for these adults to rest.

Penguin Science

Postcards from the Field: Antarctica

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