Gerlache Strait, Paradise Bay, Danco Coast and Neko Harbor, Antarctica
To simplify the personalities of the three Pygoscelid or brush-tailed penguins: Adelies are classic black and white Antarctic penguins, masters of the flatter coastal areas; chinstraps are rowdy, scrappy mountaineers; and gentoos are surfers hanging out on the beach. Laid back by comparison, and generally quiet, gentoos are omnipresent at most of our landings. Today was a very warm, sunny day in Antarctica, especially for a rotund, (they are the third largest species after emperors and kings) black-backed penguin. They are supremely insulated, with waterproof feathers, a fuzzy layer of down, and a subcutaneous layer of blubber. They are so well insulated that while on their nests, they can only keep cool by restricting their movements and by panting.
From today's photograph (a close-up of a panting gentoo) we can see the intricacies of the inside of their mouth. A bright orange color prevails from the outside inward, and the hooked bill, or beak is perfect for nipping and grabbing slippery prey such as krill or small fish. The small barbs on their tongue and palate are angled backwards to help guide the unfortunate prey item down toward the back of their throat and quickly shunted "down the hatch." So penguins tend to grab and gulp, or nip and gobble during their one to two minute dives for food. Gentoos can dive relatively deeply, sometimes reaching over 120 meters, and they focus their feeding closer to the shorelines, while their relatives, the Adelies and chinstraps feed farther out to sea.
Today we seemingly did it all with a scenic adventure through Paradise Bay, a continent landing at Neko Harbor, a hike up a glacier followed by (for some) a rapid slide on our backsides and (for some) an Antarctic swim. Just before dinner, we went on a Zodiac cruise among the icebergs and crabeater seals while Patrik, our Hotel Manager zipped around offering drinks he called "Antarctic Punch." As I write this, we are still wide awake and keenly alert; all eyes are on the lookout for feeding humpback whales in the Neumeyer Channel. Therefore I must go. I am so glad the sun only goes down for two hours tonight!
To simplify the personalities of the three Pygoscelid or brush-tailed penguins: Adelies are classic black and white Antarctic penguins, masters of the flatter coastal areas; chinstraps are rowdy, scrappy mountaineers; and gentoos are surfers hanging out on the beach. Laid back by comparison, and generally quiet, gentoos are omnipresent at most of our landings. Today was a very warm, sunny day in Antarctica, especially for a rotund, (they are the third largest species after emperors and kings) black-backed penguin. They are supremely insulated, with waterproof feathers, a fuzzy layer of down, and a subcutaneous layer of blubber. They are so well insulated that while on their nests, they can only keep cool by restricting their movements and by panting.
From today's photograph (a close-up of a panting gentoo) we can see the intricacies of the inside of their mouth. A bright orange color prevails from the outside inward, and the hooked bill, or beak is perfect for nipping and grabbing slippery prey such as krill or small fish. The small barbs on their tongue and palate are angled backwards to help guide the unfortunate prey item down toward the back of their throat and quickly shunted "down the hatch." So penguins tend to grab and gulp, or nip and gobble during their one to two minute dives for food. Gentoos can dive relatively deeply, sometimes reaching over 120 meters, and they focus their feeding closer to the shorelines, while their relatives, the Adelies and chinstraps feed farther out to sea.
Today we seemingly did it all with a scenic adventure through Paradise Bay, a continent landing at Neko Harbor, a hike up a glacier followed by (for some) a rapid slide on our backsides and (for some) an Antarctic swim. Just before dinner, we went on a Zodiac cruise among the icebergs and crabeater seals while Patrik, our Hotel Manager zipped around offering drinks he called "Antarctic Punch." As I write this, we are still wide awake and keenly alert; all eyes are on the lookout for feeding humpback whales in the Neumeyer Channel. Therefore I must go. I am so glad the sun only goes down for two hours tonight!
