Looking as cute as any baby bird can,
penguin chicks of this age are food processing machines. With a relatively
late start to the season compared to many other birds and the need to
leave early before it begins to get cold with the threat of sea-ice
arriving, Antarctic animals have to grow fast to survive.
This
shot taken with only a moderate telephoto lens shows how close you can get
to the nest without disturbing the penguins or chicks. This was taken on
Signy Island part of the South Orkneys group when the only humans that the
wildlife encountered were occasional scientists who lived at the
scientific base elsewhere on the island. Increasing tourist pressure on
certain regions of Antarctica, particularly around the Antarctic Peninsula
mean that for many people who visit the Antarctic, it is not possible to
take such pictures. If the tourists that visited were allowed to get this
close to the wildlife on a regular basis, the wildlife would soon up
sticks and disappear.
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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