Gentoo Penguins at O'Higgins Station, Antarctica: 2016

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

How those rock nests are made... by little thieves!

Thanks to Kevin for the heads up on this video!

Monday, May 9, 2016

Last gifs of 2015-2016 season

The chicks are all grown and the end of the 2015-2016 rookery season has come to an end. For this particular area, the production and rearing of chicks has been a huge success. The Gentoos have raised some gorgeous chicks and we had the opportunity to watch the entire event.

At this point, I want to thank the crew of the Gars O'Higgins Station for their perseverence and reliability in maintaining the cams. Without their input, we would have no Gentoo season to treasure and keep forever. So thanks folks... you rock solid.

I will post one more time with what I consider to be the best images of the season, but as the Gentoos are now spending more time at sea than at the rookery, these gifs will be the last until the breeding adults return in September.

Lastly, thank you, our audience, for watching and remembering these little birds in your daily routine. Without penguins, our world would be a much poorer place to live; also, penguins are our indicators for climate change, and if we should lose them, we would be next in line for extinction.

Do what you can to protect all 18 species of penguins. Sign petitions. Protect their food source. Buy seafood and vitamins that do not affect the Antarctic food chains. Be aware that food webs are far ranging and interactive. Think green and watch your carbon footprints. And let's keep all the penguins alive for generations to come.

Lin

Far 03.23-03.29.2016

Far 03.29-04.03.2016

Far 04.03-04.30.2016

Near 03.23-03.29.2016

Near 03.29-04.04.2016

Near 04.04-04.30.2016

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 03.12-22.2016

Site 1 Far 03.12-22.2016

Site 1 Near 03.14-22.2016

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary March 1-12, 2016 (chicks look like adults!)

Site 1 Far 03.01-10.2016

Site 1 Near 03.01-12.2016

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 02.19-29.2016

Hi,

It's been a few days since I updated this blog, but many of the cam images were empty. I tried to catch as many of them and eliminate them, but a few sneaked past me. As you can tell, everyone moves around a great deal now; however, the chicks have a tendency to return to their nest from time to time. As they head back before the cams, we can see how much they have matured. They've developed the Gentoo trademark white mark above their eyes and are now experiencing their first molt. Next comes their first swim and that should be an exciting time for them, as they will no longer be dependent on mom and dad.

That dark spot you see floating in some of the came images is fog. I've often said that Antarctic fog has legs and walks where it will. lol

Thanks for watching these new additions grow into juveniles, who, in a few years will return here and also provide us with more chicks to watch and from whom we can learn so much about these marvelous birds.

Cheers,

Lin

Site 1 Far 02.19-29.2016

Site 1 Near 02.19-29.2016

Monday, February 22, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 02.12-18.2016

Site 1 Creche 02.12-18.2016

Site 1 Near 02.12-18.2016

A little late, but finally posted here... this will probably be the last time for the gifs. Most of the shots are now empty, as everyone is moving around. However, I will be posting single frame images as they are available. One other item-night time has returned and it is lengthening on a daily basis. Not too much longer and the chicks will molt into their adult forms and be ready to go fish with the parents. What a season it's been!

Lin

Friday, February 12, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 02.08-11.2016 (the molt has begun for everyone!)

Site 1 Creche 02.08-11.2016

Site 1 Near 02.08-11.2016

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 02.06-07.2016

Site 1 Creche 02.06-07.2016

Site 1 Near 02.06-07.2016

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 02.03-05.2016 (The Cam is Back!)

Site 1 Creche 02.03-05.2016

Site 1 Near 02.03-05.2016

If the timeline jumps a few hours or minutes, it's because I eliminated those images that were too out of focus due to fog.

Once again, thanks to the Argentines for swiftly fixing the cams. They rock!

Lin

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 01.31-02.01.2016

The cams have broken down again, but I'm posting what images I have at the moment. Once they are fixed, I'll begin posting anew. Take heart... we should be able to see our chicks shed their baby feathers and begin their lives as juvie penguins, ready for the sea very soon. Those Argentine guys have been wonderful in keeping the cams going and I can't thank them enough for allowing us to watch this year's chicks hatch and mature!

Lin

Site 1 Creche 01.31-02.01.2016

Site 1 Near 01.31-02.01.2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 01.29-30.2016

Site 1 Creche 01.29-30.2016

Site 1 Near 01.29-30.2016

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 01.27-28.2016

Site Creche 01.27-28.2016

Site 1 Near 01.27-28.2016

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

zpenguin Activity Summary 01.25-26.2016

Site 1 Creche 01.25-26.2016

Site 1 Near 01.25-26.2016

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 01.22-23.2016

Site 1 Creche 01.22-23.2016

Site 1 Near 01.22-23.2016

Friday, January 22, 2016

Penguin Activity Summary 01.20-22.2016

Site 1 Creche 01.20-22.2016

Site 1 Near 01.20-22.2016

Since there are now so few penguins at Site 2, I have elected to not summarize them. Instead, the far cam on Site 1 takes images of the chicks gathering place or as it's normally called, the creche. Also, I've noticed that the adults all leave to feed and the pair who have late chicks in the Near cam image are left to babysit.

I'm very concerned at the lateness of those aforementioned chicks. They're so small and they were hatched a month behind the rest of the chicks. Let's keep an eye on them and hope that they both have time to mature before they all leave in the fall.

Lin