Cuverville Island, The Errera Channel
We have reached the west side, the snowier side of the Antarctic Peninsula where moist west winds coming from the Bellinghausen Sea are forced upward by the mountains of the Peninsula, cool and lose their moisture as snow. The past winter brought an unusual amount of snow, burying the penguin rookeries and slowing the progress of the breeding season. This morning Captain Skog nosed the Endeavour through the floating ice surrounding Cuverville Island and we disembarked, some to paddle kayaks amongst floating icebergs and bergie bits, others to slog through the snow to watch the antics of gentoo penguins. Penguins ashore become stained by the muddy meltwater running between their close-packed nests, but a trip to the sea soon restores them to their bright black and white splendor. Upon returning from a feeding and cleansing trip, one thing remains to be accomplished. Oil from the preen gland, found just above the tail, is distributed over the feathers to maintain their waterproof property. It seems an awkward reach, but this penguin soon accomplished the task. Feathers cleaned, oiled, and neatly arranged, it trudged up the snowy slope to greet its mate with bills raised toward the sky in a mutual “ecstatic display.” Life is good!
We have reached the west side, the snowier side of the Antarctic Peninsula where moist west winds coming from the Bellinghausen Sea are forced upward by the mountains of the Peninsula, cool and lose their moisture as snow. The past winter brought an unusual amount of snow, burying the penguin rookeries and slowing the progress of the breeding season. This morning Captain Skog nosed the Endeavour through the floating ice surrounding Cuverville Island and we disembarked, some to paddle kayaks amongst floating icebergs and bergie bits, others to slog through the snow to watch the antics of gentoo penguins. Penguins ashore become stained by the muddy meltwater running between their close-packed nests, but a trip to the sea soon restores them to their bright black and white splendor. Upon returning from a feeding and cleansing trip, one thing remains to be accomplished. Oil from the preen gland, found just above the tail, is distributed over the feathers to maintain their waterproof property. It seems an awkward reach, but this penguin soon accomplished the task. Feathers cleaned, oiled, and neatly arranged, it trudged up the snowy slope to greet its mate with bills raised toward the sky in a mutual “ecstatic display.” Life is good!
