Patagonia’s Penguins at Risk from Proposed Coal Mine

Last month Chile’s governmentapproved a controversial coal mine project in southern Patagonia’s Riesco Island, despite opposition from local residents and environmental groups, including Oceana.

Oceana presented a report to Chile’s environmental ministry outlining the threats facing mammals and birds in the region, including the area’s most emblematic seabird, the Magellanic penguin. The threats from the mine include heavy metal pollution (such as mercury), oil spills, and boat collisions with marine mammals.Patagonia’s Penguins at Risk from Proposed Coal Mine

Penguin People -Dee Borsema - Feather loss epidemic,

Penguin chicks are facing a new threat – stunted growth or even death brought on by a mysterious feather-loss epidemic. A recently released report, co-authored by WCS scientist Dee Boersma, details the severity of this new disorder.

Donations are being sought by the WCS to fund research into this problem.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE.



Penguin of the Day - Magellanic - Images by Jonathan Chester

PENGUIN PEOPLE - Gerald Kooyman - Emperor Penguin Researcher

Friend and pioneering penguin researcher at the Scripps Institute, Gerald Kooyman, was interviewed by Discovery News about his work with the most amazing of all penguins.. the emperor.

For more than 30 years, he has studied the behavioral, physiological, and anatomical adaptations of antarctic marine animals. His work, both at Scripps and in remote field locations, has broadened scientific understanding of the specialized adaptations of these aquatic mammals and birds and how they live and survive on the coldest, driest, and windiest continent.
In recent years, Kooyman has focused on emperor penguins, and how they may be affected by global climate change. The causes and effects of global change continue to be hotly debated by scientists. Kooyman, however, approaches it from a different perspective."

"What really matters," he says, "is whether animal populations are increasing or declining. If they are declining, the question is why? What is the cause and are humans the responsible agents? If so, what can we do about it?

Penguin of the Day - Emperor - Images by Jonathan Chester

The Penguins of Punta Tombo featuring Dee Borsema

Great new video featuring Dee Borsema who has worked on Magellanic Penguins for 28 years at Punta Tombo in Argentina with the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Magellanics, one of the four so called "ringed penguin species", live in colonies in temperate conditions found in southern South America and the Falkland Islands.

Penguin of the Day - Magellanic - Images by Jonathan Chester

WHY ARE PENGUINS LOSING THEIR FEATHERS?

A new condition is causing many penguin chicks to lose their feathers, with some victims dying as a result of the mysterious problem, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The condition, called "feather-loss disorder," appears to have emerged recently and is now affecting penguin colonies on both sides of the South Atlantic.

..... (Feather-loss disorder has been observed in African penguins, which inhabit the coast and offshore islands of South Africa. Credit: Nola Parsons)

A "naked" Magellanic penguin chick at Punta Tombo, site of the most important colony for the species. Credit: Jeffrey Smith)

BLOG: Punk Rock Penguins Protected

“Feather-loss disorders are uncommon in most bird species, and we need to conduct further study to determine the cause of the disorder and if this is in fact spreading to other penguin species,” Dee Boersma was quoted as saying in a WCL press release. Boersma has conducted studies on Magellanic penguins for more than three decades.

"We need to learn how to stop the spread of feather-loss disorder," she added, "as penguins already have problems with oil pollution and climate variation. It’s important to keep disease from being added to the list of threats they face."

Ship wreck and oil spill threatens Northern Rock Hopper Penguin

The small community of the remote islands of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic are struggling to cope with a massive oil spill from a Greek managed cargo ship that was wrecked on the coast of Nightingale Island. The 1500 tons of fuel and oil released is threatening the endangered Northern Rockhopper penguin population. Three hundred birds have already died.

Fellow penguinologist Dyan daNapoli has been following the tragedy closely. Dyan suggests:

"To make a donation to help save the oiled seabirds at Tristan da Cunha, visit The Ocean Foundation‘s website. Your donation to the Nightingale Island Disaster Penguin and Seabird Rescue Fund is tax-deductible, and will go directly to help the teams working to save the oiled seabirds at Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha and Inaccessible Island. There is also a link to this donation form on the Ocean Doctor’s website (Dr. David Guggenheim)."

Endangered Northern Rockhopper Penguins on Nightingale Island Affected by Extensive Oil Spill

Nightingale Island, part of the remote Tristan da Cunha group in the South Atlantic, was hit on March 16th, 2011 by the MV Oliva, a freighter carrying soybeans from Brazil to Singapore. Over 800 tons of fuel oil was spilled onto the island's shores, poisoning the local population of endangered northern rockhopper penguins. I arrived on the site on March 23, 2011. This is what National Geographic photographer Andrew Evans reported..

Penguins truly are one of the feel-good animals.

Penguins truly are one of the feel-good animals.

"But there is very little fun loving or playful about the lives of Adélies. They live in the most brutal environment in the world — on the brink of catastrophe at all times. They survive by running the behavior code embedded in their genes, which were laid down by countless successful generations before them."

Jean Pennycook, writing in the ANTARCTIC SUN

Jean Pennycook observes the Adélie penguins at Cape Royds on Ross Island, Antarctica. Pennycook is the education and outreach coordinator for a long-term research program on the penguin colonies around the Ross Sea led by David Ainley.

Penguin of the Day - Rock Hopper

Penguin of the Day - Rockhopper - Images by Jonathan Chester

Rockhopper Eudyptes chrysocome (golden haired) is very noisy and quarrelsome bird, aptly named, Rockhopper, from its habit of bounding up quite steep rock strewn slopes with both feet together.

Theses tough penguins bear the nicknames “Rockies” or “Jumping Jacks” in the Falkland Islands. The smallest member of the crested penguins, the Rockhopper, is distinguished by having red eyes and the adults have a drooping yellow crest.
Immature birds have paler yellow eyebrows and lack the plumes.

Rockhoppers can rocket 1 mere (4 ft) out of the water when they make an exit from the sea and they can leap 30 centimeters (1 foot ) forward in a single bound - super penguin !. Males are generally larger than females and they nest in large colonies in caves on ledges and cliff tops often high above the waves.

On New Island, in the Falklands, a colony of some 3 million rockhoppers exists 200 ft above the sea. The rocks path way to the colony bare scars of thousands of years of erosion by ”rockies” sharp toenails. These high nesting sites are believed to be safer from seals. Rockhopper penguins may share their colonies with King Shags and Black-browed Albatross. They lay two large eggs, because the chicks need a lot of nourishment to develop on a nest of pebbles and grass - depending on what is available.

Rockhopper penguins face two threats on land, marauding birds and bad weather - high winds and rain squalls etc. A similar looking species to the Rockhopper, though with a more orange and bushy plume that meet on the font of its crown, is the Macaroni.

(from The Nature of Penguins. Jonathan Chester)

Penguin of the Day - Chinstrap

Penguin of the Day - Chinstrap - Images by Jonathan Chester

The Chinstrap Penguin, Pygoselis antarctica, is the second of the brush-tailed genera ranging from 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 inches) in length and weigh some 3.9 - 4.4 kilograms (8 1/2 to 91/2 pounds). Though similar in appearance to the Adélie Penguin they are slightly smaller and more aggressive.

They are named for the distinctive narrow band of black tipped feathers that extends from ear to ear under their chin, like the strap of a guardsman's helmet. Their diet is similar to that of the Adélie Penguin, and on the Antarctic Peninsula, they can often be found breeding side by side.

Chinstraps hatch later than the Adelie and Gentoos, but their growth rate is faster. The chicks do not form creches, likes other species, but stay by their nests. They are found mostly in the subantarctic, but there are also large colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Chinstraps may be the most numerous penguin, with a population estimated at 12 to 13 million. They often select lofty sites that are the first to become snow free to ensure the maximum amount of time to raise their chicks.

(from The Nature of Penguins. Jonathan Chester)

Penguin of the Day - Magellanic

Penguin of the Day - Magellanic - Images by Jonathan Chester

The Magallenic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus was first identified by Forster, James Cook’s naturalist, in 1781. The specific name “magellanicus” was given to honour Ferdinand Magellan, whose’ expedition in 1519 was the earliest to record this species.

Magellanics are easily distinguished from the other ringed penguins by a double black band across their chest, rather than a single band as in the other ringed species. With a length of 70 centimetres (27 1/2inches) and weighing 4 kilograms (9 pounds), this medium sized penguin is the largest of the Spheniscus genus Magallenic Penguins, are found on the southern portion of South America and the Falkland Islands.

The Falkland’s local name for them is the "Jackass" which is derived from its loud mournful braying call frequently uttered at the entrance to the burrow.

(from The Nature of Penguins. Jonathan Chester)

Penguin of the Day - Adélie

Penguin of the Day - Adelie - Images by Jonathan Chester

Adélies are found all the way around the Antarctic continent and on neighboring islands, but they are rarely seen beyond the Antarctic convergence, the northern limit of the colder water. The Adélie is the classic “little man in evening dress”, though it is more like a cut away morning suit, than a typical tuxedo.

The Adélie’s most distinctive marking is a white ring around their eyes that beams out of an otherwise all black head. Adelies are not timid and will take on a 6 ft human who has strayed within their territory, as readily as another penguin. Having your leg pummelled by their tough flipper can result in a nasty bruise.

Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adelie, one of the brush tail species, average 70 centimetres (28 inches) in length and weigh 3.7 to 4 kilograms (8 to 8 1/2 pounds). The designation Adélie comes from Adélie Land which was named by French explorer, Admiral Durmont d’ Urville in honour of his wife.

(from The Nature of Penguins. Jonathan Chester)

Penguin of the Day - Gentoo

Penguin of the Day - Gentoo - Images by Jonathan Chester

Gentoo penguins Pygoselis papua, are slightly larger than Adélie and Chinstrap Penguins, standing 75 to 90 centimetres (37 to 30 inches) tall and weighing 6 kilograms (13 pounds). They can be recognised by their orange beaks and the flecked white marking above their eyes.

Gentoos are found right around the globe between 50° and 60° South, the scattered subantarctic islands, the Antarctic Peninsula being the southern most extent of their breeding range.

The origin of the name Gentoo is uncertain. One source suggests it is derived from the Portuguese “gentio”, a religious term meaning “not of the faith”, or gentile.

“Gentoo“ used to be a popular name in the 19th Century when it was used to describe Hindus in those parts of Anglo Indian society where Muslims predominated. The Hindus wear a white cotton cap and gentoos have a “white cap” - a band of feathers extending between the eyes across the top of the head.

Writer, Dianne Ackerman, suggests that the name Gentoo was the result of a ruse by: a British Museum man, who received a gentoo skin from an Antarctic explorer, thought it was a new species of bird, and decided to hide the information for a while. Later, he went off to Papua New Guinea, and when he returned, he described the bird as if it were one of the local species, naming it after the Gentoo, a religious sect on Papua New Guinea.

The scientific species name, papua originated from his description, lending credence to this explanation. (from The Nature of Penguins. Jonathan Chester)

Penguin of the Day

Penguin of the Day - Images by Jonathan Chester

King Penguins are found predominately in sub-Antarctic waters and breed and moult on an arc of far flung islands from: South Georgia, Heard, Macquarie, Prince Edward, Marion, Iles Kerguelen, to Crozet Island and as far north as the Falkland Islands.