The
Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is truly
a bird of the Antarctic region, rarely wandering north to sub-antarctic
waters. The Emperors breed on sea ice and are said to endure
the coldest conditions on earth of any bird. The nesting cycle
begins in the fall in March or April when the birds gather on
sea ice to begin courtship. In May or June a single egg is laid
which the male carries on top of his feet for about two months
until hatching. During this time the female is at sea foraging,
returning to the colony about the time the egg is laid in August
or September.
In December, 2001, I was one of the leaders on a Victor
Emanuel Nature Tours Antarctica trip to the Ross Sea of Antarctica.
This was VENT's first trip to "the other side" of Antarctica,
and our first chance to see numbers of Emperors. On this page
will be several photos of Emperors and their chicks taken in
early December, 2001. All photos were taken with a Canon EOS
3 camera and a Canon EF 70-200 mm F2.8 lens and 2X extender from
a tripod on Fuji Velvia film. Most of the photos were taken between
midnight and 3:00 A.M. since in this region of 24-hour daylight
the light was most lovely at that time of day. |
An adult Emperor Penguin (with a tiny drop of ice at the tip
of the bill) at Cape Washington, Ross Sea, Antarctica
|
A 2/3 grown chick begs from an adult in this delightful pose |
A view of a small area of the Emperor Penguin colony at Cape
Washington, Ross Sea, Antarctica
Emperors often move from one place to the next on their bellies,
sliding along on the snow and propelling themselves along with
their flippers and their feet. |
