Lemaire Channel & Petermann Island
While talking with the Oceanites research team today, the following conversation between one of our guests and a struggling mother of two late hatchlings was overheard:
Yes, I see you standing there shaking your head in dismay in between snapping photographs. Listen, I don’t know who you think you are, but if you think you can do a better job raising these two, I’d sure like to see you try it! You wouldn’t believe the hassles my mate and I have faced this year.
First off, we had to find each other in this hectic, ever-changing social scene. I mean it’s not as simple as just showing up, and having someone say, “Okay, let’s get started making babies,” you know. Once the two of us paired up, we had to make sure that neither of our families had too many skeletons in the closet. That’s not as easy at it sounds, either. George and my parents both just up and left us one day when we were young. Plus, my Aunt Gertie had some strange and suicidal attraction to playing tag with leopard seals...poor girl, never saw that mouth coming, a real shame I tell you. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, then we had to build a nest – out of rocks! C’mon, when have you ever heard someone say, “boy, I sure wish I had a nice comfy bed of stones to lie down on?” Completely ridiculous if you ask me. George was sure determined though, bless his heart. It’s just too bad he didn’t get a spot a little closer to downtown. Out here, in the sticks, the skuas are constantly hassling us. (Those birds are most unpleasant, believe you me...worst neighbors ever!) To top it all off, we are in the middle of some sort of “warming trend,” if you can believe it, and we had to wait on the snows to melt away enough for us to even think of laying an egg or two. Throw in a couple of first class Antarctic storms to darn near wash us right off the beach, house and all, and I’d say we’ve done pretty darn good just to even be here.
Now we have to listen to you and your big-footed, red-coated friends tramping around telling us what a bad job we’ve done. I’ll have you know we are giving it all we’ve got, and we are determined to give these two chicks all of the love, attention, and krill we have. Yes, I know we have to molt soon! Do you think you could say that a little louder! I don’t think the poor children over the hill heard you! Are you trying to start a panic or something? I know, I know the summer’s almost past and the days are getting shorter and shorter. I’m all ears, if you have some profound solution to all this. What’s that you say? I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch that. Oh, you don’t know, huh? Well then, perhaps you could just keep your thoughts to yourself next time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get George’s attention. That fool’s still trying to sneak a few stones away from the Gunderson’s nest, when he should be out getting some more krill. We’re going to need twice as much in order to get these two up to size with the rest of the colony. Oh, don’t apologize, I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by it. It’s my fault, really. I’ve been a little on edge lately. (I think it’s these stupid rocks!) Do drop in again sometime, if you are ever in the neighborhood. Bye, now.
While talking with the Oceanites research team today, the following conversation between one of our guests and a struggling mother of two late hatchlings was overheard:
Yes, I see you standing there shaking your head in dismay in between snapping photographs. Listen, I don’t know who you think you are, but if you think you can do a better job raising these two, I’d sure like to see you try it! You wouldn’t believe the hassles my mate and I have faced this year.
First off, we had to find each other in this hectic, ever-changing social scene. I mean it’s not as simple as just showing up, and having someone say, “Okay, let’s get started making babies,” you know. Once the two of us paired up, we had to make sure that neither of our families had too many skeletons in the closet. That’s not as easy at it sounds, either. George and my parents both just up and left us one day when we were young. Plus, my Aunt Gertie had some strange and suicidal attraction to playing tag with leopard seals...poor girl, never saw that mouth coming, a real shame I tell you. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, then we had to build a nest – out of rocks! C’mon, when have you ever heard someone say, “boy, I sure wish I had a nice comfy bed of stones to lie down on?” Completely ridiculous if you ask me. George was sure determined though, bless his heart. It’s just too bad he didn’t get a spot a little closer to downtown. Out here, in the sticks, the skuas are constantly hassling us. (Those birds are most unpleasant, believe you me...worst neighbors ever!) To top it all off, we are in the middle of some sort of “warming trend,” if you can believe it, and we had to wait on the snows to melt away enough for us to even think of laying an egg or two. Throw in a couple of first class Antarctic storms to darn near wash us right off the beach, house and all, and I’d say we’ve done pretty darn good just to even be here.
Now we have to listen to you and your big-footed, red-coated friends tramping around telling us what a bad job we’ve done. I’ll have you know we are giving it all we’ve got, and we are determined to give these two chicks all of the love, attention, and krill we have. Yes, I know we have to molt soon! Do you think you could say that a little louder! I don’t think the poor children over the hill heard you! Are you trying to start a panic or something? I know, I know the summer’s almost past and the days are getting shorter and shorter. I’m all ears, if you have some profound solution to all this. What’s that you say? I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch that. Oh, you don’t know, huh? Well then, perhaps you could just keep your thoughts to yourself next time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get George’s attention. That fool’s still trying to sneak a few stones away from the Gunderson’s nest, when he should be out getting some more krill. We’re going to need twice as much in order to get these two up to size with the rest of the colony. Oh, don’t apologize, I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by it. It’s my fault, really. I’ve been a little on edge lately. (I think it’s these stupid rocks!) Do drop in again sometime, if you are ever in the neighborhood. Bye, now.
