Image courtesy of Jean Pennycook

From: Jean Pennycook
Cape Royds, December 18, 2006

A Family of Penguins

Chicks are hatching everyday now and the colony is bubbling with new life. The air is filled with the songs of penguins returning from feeding and the growls of predatory Skua birds as they circle the nesting area, looking for opportunities to grab a meal. As the chicks can not be left unattended for even a moment, their parents take turns tending the nests and searching for food out at sea. Penguin breeding pairs participate in loud displays of recognition as a ritual for turning over the nest to the returning mate. This pair is just about to exchange places on the nest, a rare moment when both parents are there. This new family consists of a 1-2 day old chick and a newly hatched chick. In this picture, you can see the broken eggshell and small beak to the right under the adults feathers.

Life and Ecology

Penguin Science

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