ANTARCTICA
- PENGUIN
PRIMER
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE
YOU GO…
A
SUMMARY and UPDATE ON THE WORLD OF PENGUINS AS WE GET READY TO SAIL
ON OUR JOURNEY TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA AND POINTS SOUTH!!!
Article and
photographs by Greg Smith, Naturalist Journeys
Penguins
are flightless, aquatic birds found in the southern hemisphere. Penguin
biodiversity is limited to between 17 & 20 species depending on
whom you talk to. Most species feed on krill, squid or fish and capture
their prey by swimming underwater. Penguins aren’t particularly
afraid of humans, as there are no land predators where they occur.
But in the water, leopard seals & killer whales are not their
friends!
An
‘Altared’ Gentoo
Following
are short accounts of the seven species of penguins we may see on
this trip
King
Penguins are the second largest species of penguin after the stately
Emperor. At three feet tall, these hefty penguins weigh up to 35 pounds
and are agile swimmers capable of diving up to 700 feet while foraging
for fish.
With
an estimated world population over 2 million pairs, our South Georgia
visit should allow us to hear over 100,000 of these birds at one site.
Look for large shaggy, brown chicks congregating together in crèches
(a large “babysitting” strategy) whereby a few adults
can supervise while the majority fishes during the chicks 15 month
fledging. Like most penguins, Kings are capable of drinking saltwater
because of their supraorbital gland.
Macaroni
Penguins are the most numerous of the world’s penguin species
with over 9 million breeding pairs in at least 216 colonies. At 2
feet tall, they weigh in around 11 pounds.
Macaroni
Penguins are birds of the islands, with only a few found on the Antarctic
Peninsula and southern Chile. Even though there are impressive numbers
of these birds, populations have plummeted 30% over the last three
generations (ocean warming and fishing). Their “Macaroni”
name is supposedly derived from a reference to their yellow “feather
in their cap” from the early marching song Yankee Doodle.
Rockhopper
Penguins are a small-sized bird that weighs only seven pounds. The
slate-gray upperparts are the backdrop for the red eye that has a
yellow eyebrow that extends into feathered plumes.
The
3.5 million pebble-lined nests can be found from sea-level to the
tops of cliffs and well inland. As the name suggests, these penguins
can be encountered hopping over rocks on their way to nests well removed
from the water. This species is closely related to the Macaroni Penguin.
Adelie
Penguins are common along the entire Antarctic coast. Other than storm
petrels, this penguin is the most southerly distributed bird in the
world. The Adelie is a little taller than the Macaroni Penguin, but
lighter in weight.
Stable
isotope records from fossil eggshells over the last 38,000 years has
shown that 200 years ago the Adelie switched from a fish-based diet
to a krill based diet. Coincidentally whaling started in the Antarctic
at that time, which could have reduced food competition with cetaceans.
Gentoo
Penguins are the third largest (30-36 inches) penguin species after
Emperor and Kings. Their large size does not impair their ability
to swim, as they are the fastest of all penguin species, capable of
swimming over 22 mph.
As
with a number of penguin species, Gentoo’s nest in colonies
utilizing piles of pebbles to keep their two eggs dry from the melting
snow. Thievery of nesting material is common as individuals are always
looking for one more perfect pebble.
The
7.5 million Chinstrap Penguins are limited in distribution to seven
island groups near Antarctica. They average about 27 inches in height
and weigh in around ten pounds. They are primarily krill eaters.
Chinstrap
Penguins are a bold, aggressive species that readily defend their
nest and young from aerial predators. They are also one of the few
penguin species known to nest on icebergs. As with most penguins,
Chinstraps utilize their flippers to swim at speeds up to 20 miles
per hour.
The
Magellanic Penguin is the common species usually found in zoos around
the world. They reside in more temperate climates, which allow for
a 25-year lifespan in the wild and 30 years in captivity.
Magellanic
Penguins utilize a different nesting strategy from the others listed
in this primer: they excavate an underground burrow. Males return
to the same site year after year and usually end up mating with the
same partner for life. Nests are sometimes found in densities of 20
per 1000 square feet.
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