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Gentoo penguin
Pygoscelis papua
-63.7503, -61.2041
Field Notes
Description:
The gentoo penguin is easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a bonnet across the top of its head and its bright orange-red bill.
Habitat:
They breed on many sub-Antarctic islands. The main colonies are on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Kerguelen Islands; smaller populations are found on Macquarie Island, Heard Islands, South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Notes:
During a 12 day cruise of the Antarctic peninsula we saw thousands of Gentoo penguins. We saw them everyday we were there. They had just arrived to breed on the rocky areas, after a long winter feeding at sea. We were not allowed to approach within about 10m of any colonies but that didn't stop the penguins from coming to you. If you stayed sitting or crouched they would often walk right past you, within 1m, such an amazing experience of an animal with no fear of humans. I heard talk of others on the cruise becoming unenthused about seeing Gentoos everyday but I never tired of them. Upon approaching land in the Zodiac, we often smelled them before we saw them. Along with Gentoo penguins, we also saw Chinstrap penguins, though only a dozen or so and only one Adelie penguin. The last photo shows a colony near an old research station.
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