Temperature -5oC/23oF.
Video of King penguins fighting over a mate:
While moulting, penguins cannot go in the water and must survive on their own fat.
By the time we completed this Zodiac excursion, we had to skip the planned excursion to Hercules Bay, and have lunch.
Today started with a continental breakfast from 4:30-5:30. We were supposed to have a Zodiac cruise and landing, then return to the ship for brunch at 7:45.
South Georgia Island is part of the British Overseas Territory that includes the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, South Sandwich Islands, and Graham Land on the Antarctic Peninsula. It was a commercial center for fur seal skins and elephant seal oil from 1786 to 1909. As the seal population neared zero, the whaling industry began 1904, ending in 1966.
We could already hear and smell the King penguin colony! Adults trumpet and chicks whistle, and everybody poops.
In the world, the King penguin population is estimated to be 1.5-2 million pairs. On South Georgia Island, there are about 450,000 pairs, of which 75,000 pairs breed at Salisbury Plain.
Video of a preening King penguin:
South Georgia Island is part of the British Overseas Territory that includes the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, South Sandwich Islands, and Graham Land on the Antarctic Peninsula. It was a commercial center for fur seal skins and elephant seal oil from 1786 to 1909. As the seal population neared zero, the whaling industry began 1904, ending in 1966.
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| Beginning to load the Zodiacs |
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| The Zodiacs took 8-10 passengers, with an expedition guide at the helm; it was the luck-of-the-draw as to whether you had a knowledgeable and/or good driver |
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| Lucas Glacier... |
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| ...then farther right is Grace Glacier whose shrinkage has provided more land for the Aptenodytes patagonicus/King Penguins (those tiny white dots on the beach) to breed |
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| Oh! A fur seal who is actually bathing as he rolls around in the water |
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| Aptenodytes patagonicus patagonicus/King Penguins plunge into the sea for feeding or bathing (by SteveAndEmma) |
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| Landing at Salisbury Plain, site of the second largest King penguin colony on South Georgia Island (KSS) |
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| A loving couple? |
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| Arctocephalus gazella/Antarctic Fur Seals are territorial and ferociously protect their kingdom if you come too close; (Grace Glacier in the background) |
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| This fur seal makes sure the King penguins keep on walking (by Charlie Wu) |
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| King penguin family; the chick in the foreground is nearing the end of losing his first downy feathers |
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| Penguin feathers appeared to be just over one-inch long, and the adult moult each year; the outer layer of feathers are oiled and waterproof while the inner layers are downy for insulation |
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| We were to try to stay 5 m/16' from the wildlife, but often they would approach us and in backing up, you were in danger of trodding on another animal! |
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| Tamiko & Kent with King penguins at Salisbury Plain |
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| King penguin chicks cannot swim until their waterproof layer of feathers grow out, so even though they are nearly as tall as their parents, they depend on them for food (KSS) |
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| Chick and adult (by Charlie Wu) |
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| It takes 13 months for a King penguin chick to be ready to go in the water and feed himself |
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| With early and late breeders, the chicks born closer to winter often do not survive, and evidence of that is everywhere |
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| Another of the older chicks who will be ready to fledge/become independent this year |
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| A younger chick; early explorers mistook these brown birds to be another species |
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| A path through the Poa flabellata/ Tussac Grass |
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| The parent King penguin leaves to feed on fish in the sea, then returns calling to his chick whose cry he recognizes, then he will regurgitate his food to feed the chick (KSS) |
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| Chick feeding from a parent's gullet (by TLH) |
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| Masses of penguins! (by Alon Zaharony) |
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| The King penguin second from the right has a brood pouch above his feet; this is where the egg is kept warm for 55 days while resting on the tops of the feet; both parents share this duty |
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| A better view of the brood pouch covering an egg (by Roger) |
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| Tens of thousands of penguins! |
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| King penguins on a tussock of tussac grass |
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| A large gathering of King penguin chicks is called a crèche, and in the winter they huddle togther for warmth |
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| Jacqueline and Bert, our intrepid fellow travelers |
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| This adult looks fat because he is preparing to moult when his new feathers have fully grown in |
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| A fur seal on his tussock |
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| An attempt to show the long whiskers of the fur seal |
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| This fur seal does not have a very large harem KSS |
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| A nursing fur seal pup |
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| Arctocephalus gazella/Antarctic Fur Seal pup (by unknown) |
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| King penguins join the queue to embark on the Zodiac (by unknown) |
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| From the Zodiac, King penguins cover the hillside (by James Moult) |
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| View from our cabin window of Lucas Glacier on South Georgia Island |
Next: Grytviken.
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