Antarctica -- October-November 2010

Petermann Island.

This was near the area where the small boats landed. Here you can see a close-up of one of their nest areas. These Gentoo penguns make nests of small pebbles. They seemed to be in the nest-building, courting, and mating part of the cycle while we were there.

They were stealing pebbles from each other's nests at this time. Wasn't sure if that behavior is limited to only the nest-building phase or if they continue to do that even afrter the babies come.

I'm pretty sure this is mostly mud, but some of it might be penguin poop.

(28 Nov 2010)