Image Courtesy of Jean Pennycook

From: Jean Pennycook
Cape Royds, Antarctica, November 28, 2008

Baby Come Back.

The colony is very quiet now, the nesting groups of penguins are mostly males patiently keeping the 2 eggs warm while the females are out foraging for food. This year the sea ice edge, where the females had to go after laying their eggs, is 50 miles away. It is a two day walk both there and back plus the time to feed and fatten up. Normally the pathway to the colony (above the nesting group in the picture) is full of penguins coming and going. Today there are none. If they do not return, the males will abandon the nest and the eggs to the Skuas. We hope the females will return to the colony, but 50 miles is a long way. We are waiting too. For more information about Adelie Penguins go to: penguinscience.com

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Postcards from the Field: Adelie Penguins 2008

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