PENGUINS

PENGUINS! At 5 a.m., the lone Emperor was spotted. The penguin team quickly assembled and set off in the Zodiak. They were able to tag their first Emperor penguin of the cruise. The transmitter is attached to the feathers on the wing and sends a signal every 40 seconds. If a satellite picks up the signal, the penguin’s location and diving behavior (depth, speed, duration, etc.) is recorded for the scientists to view on a computer. Once the penguins enter molting season, the tags fall off and are lost. Forever.

After a successful tagging of an Emperor penguin. Photo credit: Andrew Margolin.

Scientists reach the ice flow that the emperor penguin is resting on. They managed to approach the penguin without it moving. It just stood and stared at them. They have no concept of being afraid of humans. Photo credit: Andrew Margolin.

 Most of the time while we were breaking ice we saw Adelie Penguins waddling along the ice with a goofy cadence. On the rarer occasion we would see a lone Emperor by the ice edge:

ONE day when we tracked down a colony of Emperor Penguins so the penguin team could tag the juveniles we got to get up close and personal with the fearless birds. They waddle up to you like old catholic cardinals. They look at you out of one of their eyes and they talk amongst themselves with their trumpeted song.

Penguins have shark hooks on the end of their beak they use as ice picks to climb out of the water.

We built an igloo for fun. The penguins seemed to enjoy it as well. I think this igloo will stay there for years and years to come considering the environment doesn't really change much in the deserts of Antarctica.

Penguin art work. mmm guano.

Penguins loved the boat. Our engines stirred up plankton and fish for them to eat.

To read more about the penguin team click here. Their posts will have MUCH more information than I can capture in my blog.