First Chick
December 3, 2008
It took me by surprise this afternoon: a small, black, fuzzy head poked out from under a penguin on its nest, and chirped a couple times. The first hatched penguin chick of the season! Last year, the first chick was seen on December 6.
Meanwhile, the other 299,999 penguins at Cape Crozier are still sitting on eggs, but, within a week or two, there will be chicks hatching all over the place. I predict chaos will ensue, or the penguins will learn to recognize their offspring.
Yesterday’s four inches of new snow made the landscape pretty, and also pretty slippery. When you can’t see the rocks and ice beneath the frosting, it’s hard to navigate without losing balance on the one-mile hike (down almost 1,000 feet elevation) to reach the penguin colony from our hut. I wiped out on a sheet of hidden ice before seeing a snowy body-print where Kirsten had done exactly the same thing. Live and learn.
A helicopter dropped by this morning to pick up our broken tents and deliver us two new ones. More important, however, was the box of fresh tomatoes they also brought us. And the carton of hot cocoa mix—we were running low. Some things, money can’t buy… for everything else, there’s a good helo pilot funded by the National Science Foundation.
The First Adelie Penguin Chick Of 2008-09
Kirsten And Michelle On The Ice
Six Adelie Penguins
Kirsten Searching For Banded Penguins
Penguins In The Colony
Kirsten Hiking Home After A Day In The Penguin Colony
A Helicopter Creates A Snowstorm As It Takes Off
There Are Some Things Money Can't Buy...
2 Responses to 'First Chick'
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Hey Noah
What an adventure! I am so proud of you. Just to show you the difference in your world and mine. It wa 88 degrees here yesterday. Today we a falling to 75. I guess I’d better pull out the winter coats. LOL
Just remember that I am in the desert in Palm Springs.
I’ve shown all my friends your pictures.
What do you want for Christmas. (an indoor shower and toilet?) Sure wish I had a way to send you Vegies,
Drop me a line
Love Ya
Liz
Liz
4 Dec 08 at 5:17 am
I am so glad to have found your site. I’m enthralled with your journey and enjoying the photos. Wonderful project, amazing birds. The new chick is beautiful.
vickie
4 Dec 08 at 4:43 pm