They're Baaaack!

Wow. It's been nearly a year since I've posted anything on this blog; how time flies, right? Thanks to a computer meltdown of epic proportions last spring and really bad cam shots, I managed to miss out on the last leg of the Gentoos occupation of Gars O'Higgins Station, which included the chicks first wanderings. I'm hoping for a better year this time, as well better cam shots to highlight a nest or two. Without a cam on a nest, we can't have front row seats for the birth and subsequent sighting of the chicks' first forays.

So, that being said, here's evidence that a few early arrivers are already checking out the rookery, despite the still intense sea ice and subsequent spring weather. I'll have more as the cams catch sight of those gorgeous Gentoos.

Stay tuned! 
Lin

Cuteness: Alert! You must see these penguin videos!

Gentoo Penguins (video)

What with disappointing cam views this year, as compared to the past several years, I thought I'd post this sweet Gentoo video for you all to enjoy. Keeping fingers crossed someone comes to our rescue and moves those cams to a better vantage point!

~ Lin

Coming soon! (video)

Checking in on those Gentoos

A typical day at the rookery...

The following images are some of the best web cam captures I could make. The cams situated near the outer nests are not well placed this year for penguin viewing. In short, chances are we aren't going to see one hatch. We can only hope that when eggs are laid that a cam will be focused on one pair so that we can witness the imminent hatching.

In the meantime, enjoy the following and let's keep our penguin toes crossed that we can see some of the real interaction among our little celebrities.

Lin

Gentoo Update 10/26/2014

Our penguins have been busy feeding and reconnecting, and as the days progress, more and more of them seem to show up. The above gif shows those early days of coming and going and then, below, we see a little more of daily rookery life. Hopefully, there'll be more more images as the days progress. Of late, the little guys have left for hours feeding only to show up before sundown.

I have a feeling that these guys are going to be real camera hogs. :-)

More later!

First post for a new season

Hellooooo everyone and welcome back to the Gentoo Penguin Rookery at Gars O'Higgins Station in Antarctica!

As this is World Animal Day, then certainly you'll not find a more appropriate day for this blog to begin posting again. I'm ever so excited and happy to see our little guys already back and canoodling, regardless if the ice is as thick as it ever has been during the Antarctic winter. However, this year, I'm hoping that my computer will not take a nose dive as it did in the middle of hatching last year and ruin my posting abilities. So far, so good. I'm keeping flippers crossed it stays that way.

Firstly, though, I want to thank our Argentine friends at the station  for maintaining the cameras for us. Without their help, we would never be able to sit within the warm confines of our homes and enjoy watching the little Gentoos go about the business of propagating their species.

Secondly, last year, the first hatching came after Christmas/Boxing Day, which is unusual. And this year, reports are that the ice around Antarctica is thicker than in previous years. Climate change is affecting everything, but especially our penguins. But there is some good news. The ozone hole over Antarctica is smaller than it has been in the past decade and is on its way to closing indefinitely. From year to year, we can see small changes become large ones, but this should spur us on to make even larger changes in our own lives for the betterment of the environment.

And lastly, I am here to bring to you the best of what the camera captures of the actions of our little friends. If there are questions or comments, I am also here to field them. I wish us all to enjoy the penguin season with fascination, with concern, and with greater resolve to set things right again so that future generations of penguin and people can enjoy their lives with as much gusto as possible.

Peace out,
Lin aka wiinterrr

Psst... and now for a few images to get you going...

Gentoo Chicks Week 3

Those little cuties are certainly getting about

 

Our first chick meme!

 

Chicks are investigating their environment.

 

Curling up to mom, but too big to fit anymore.

 

Spread eagle and sound asleep

 

 Ha! A little meme I think. :-)

 Everyone is asleep. Shhhh.

Sleeping flat

 

 Cooling off, learning to be a penguin

 See the crop on that chick. Now that's a well fed bird. Of course, he's the one without a sibling so he gets all the food. 

 They're simply adorable.

And on the other side...

Chick Update Week 2 - 3

 There were just so many images I couldn't stand to omit posting that I made gifs out of them so you can see how fast they're growing. At the last gif, the chicks are already venturing out from their parents and a sort of loose creche has formed. A creche is like a nursery for chicks that is supervised by a few adults. This allows the rest of the rookery inhabitants to freely fish for food. 

 This one is just super adorable!

As well as this one...

And on the other side of the rookery... look at the size of those chicks!