A parent gentoo penguin feeding its chick. The
chick is very close to fledging judging by its size. Penguin chicks
because they are covered in thick down before they gain their adult
feathers frequently look bigger than the adults that they are feeding
from, it's largely fluff though and once they shed the down and grow the
adult feathers they seem to shrink a few sizes.
This
feeding is clearly taking place away from the main colony. As the chicks
get bigger they beg for food from almost any adult that comes their way.
It is only in the adults interest to feed their own chicks, so there is
often a chase right through and away from the colony with much calling to
each other while the adult establishes that this really is their chick.
A
feature seen in this photograph that surprises people is how green some
bits of Antarctica can appear away from the snow and ice. This area is
covered in snow and ice in the winter, but in the warmer months, this
melts exposing rocks and an extensive carpet of moss (not grass), in
other areas, large e4xanses of green turn out to be lichens growing on the
bare rock.
Photo; © Paul Ward - Pentax equipment,
100mm
lens, 35mm film, K64.
This picture may not be copied or used in any manner without
prior written permission.
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