Adeliae

             

              Hi folks! I know I've been a bit behind on this post, and I apologize. Work has picked up a notch, I got a bit sick last week (but managed to kick it in a single day of being out of commission – thank goodness for a strong immune system!), and I've finally gotten to get out into the field a bit! So, needless to say there are a LOT of exciting updates.  

Even the sign has penguins!

                 

       First things first though, about 8 days ago I got to go visit the magical location of Shirley Island, situated about a 20-min stroll from Casey station limits. This is the home to a number of Adélie penguin rookeries and the sea-ice bridge also currently provides a haul-out spot for a few Weddell seals.  

Shirley Island and the ice we cross to get to it

        Yes, when I say sea-ice bridge, I mean that you can currently walk to the island from land over a frozen channel spanning most of the length of the island. We have to measure and monitor the ice thickness to make sure it is safe to cross, but then can happily stroll across on foot if it is even just 20cm thick!! (provided it is "good" ice). 

Mind you there are a few limitations, like carrying a survival bag in case you get trapped on the island, carrying a throw bag in case someone falls through the ice, and an ice-pick to hopefully claw your way out of the frigid water should you fall in. 

Crossing the sea-ice.
Notice the stress crack to the left of the photo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

           We also had to be accompanied by one of the beardy winterers (well I guess they didn't HAVE to be beardy)  because at this stage as we were not survival-trained.  

Penguins in sight!

And yes, they are actually all shiny and pretty when clean! 

       Before we even got onto the other side of this sea-ice, we'd been met by a few curious Adelies. These little guys are some of the most charismatic and curious little buggers I've encountered in the wild. They are truly inquisitive, and in proper penguin manner, relatively uncoordinated. 

              Here comes the penguin photo spamming portion of this blog post where I have to try and limit the 160+ photos and videos I took in one single afternoon to a few choice ones. 

Mind you, I promise you will be seeing more pictures of these funky little guys over the course of my stay here (I even just got some brilliant video footage on my most recent adventure - survival training – but that is for another day's blog).  

Sippin' on some snow

Let's not forget the Skua that nest in the same area

Post-copulation pair

The penguins are currently breeding, which allowed for some really interesting observations, both of actualy copulation but also of the ritual pebble-gathering on the part of the males, and a fair bit of agressive behaviour as well.

Stealing pebbles!

           We probably spend about 2 hours out on Shirley Island just watching and taking photos/videos of these fantastic creatures, which was long enough to be fully desensitized to the stench they emanate.

BIIIIIIG Yawn

            

           Now, don't forget this is also a spot where we got to see some Weddell seals! What I was not expecting was to actually get to HEAR them on the surface. These three seals were snoozing on the sea-ice, and it would appear one of them was sleep-talking. For those of you who have no idea what a Weddell seal might sound like, I encourage you to listen here (http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/sounds or here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CRBovMIvMI ); because no matter how much I can try and describe it as 1970's Sci-Fi movie special effects sound; you just can't believe it until you hear it.  It was pretty incredible to get to hang out with the penguins for so long and even more so get to witness the vocalising of the Weddells, which I had no idea was ever done on the surface.

               When it was finally time to depart, we had our passage blocked by a little guy who'd decided he wanted to follow us home, leaving us somewhat torn between following the rest of our group up the hill and making sure he got the 5m clearance we are instructed to give penguins. He eventually gave up on those silly humans who kept walking away from him and scrambled past the ones stupidly gawking at him and taking photos on his path back to the island.  

"Hey, what are you guys up to?"

"Can I come? Pleeeeeeease?"

"awwww, you guys are no fun.... :("

         It was a pretty magical day for everyone I believe, and I've already written so much about it I'm just going to have to make a separate blog post to talk a bit about some of the field work I've been doing, so keep your eyes out for that in the next week!  

There is some penguin pornography featured in the top right-hand corner of this photo. Just a heads up. 

And let's not forget how cool the nesting Skuas around Shirley are aswell!