Adult Magellanic Penguin
Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) are found mainly around the coasts & offshore waters of Chile & Argentina, with a few visiting southern Brazil. Some of the largest breeding colonies are found in Punta Tombo, San Lorenzo; Cape Virgenes; Magdalena Island & the Falklands. Stragglers have been found as far away as Australia; New Zealand & Antarctica.
They are quite a bulky Penguin & their life expectancy can be around ten years. The world population is thought to be around 3.75 million birds. Birds breed in the austral summer & then stay on land to moult in February/March. They are highly migratory, with many birds moving north in winter. Most individuals are found in relatively close inshore waters.
Here's one!
Birds occasionally wander down to the sea
to splash in the surf to keep cool.
They don't go far though!
These birds were hanging around deep rock pools
& sometimes jumping in to keep cool.
This bird was still calling looking for a mate.
It doesn't look much from this distance,
but it is one of the great locations to visit
in Argentina
The whole area is very well laid out
& is a joy to visit.
but it is one of the great locations to visit
in Argentina
& is a joy to visit.
They are quite a bulky Penguin & their life expectancy can be around ten years. The world population is thought to be around 3.75 million birds. Birds breed in the austral summer & then stay on land to moult in February/March. They are highly migratory, with many birds moving north in winter. Most individuals are found in relatively close inshore waters.
Punta Tombo; home to one million Penguins!
Punta Tombo
This is just a small part of the area.
Most birds have left by March,
the ones that are left are all moulting.
It is estimated that around one million Magellanic Penguins come to breed at Punta Tombo arriving in September, most leaving by April, although small numbers can be seen ashore for most of the year.
Most of these birds on the beach have nearly
completed their moult & are getting ready
to go to sea again.
completed their moult & are getting ready
to go to sea again.
Moulting takes around 22 days & during this time birds cannot go back into the sea. It saps a lot of the birds energy & individuals are lethargic, moving around as little as possible. Most take shade where they can find it & just stand around waiting for the time when they can return to the sea.
This bird has nearly completed it's moult.
This individual still has around 30% to go.
This individual still has a long way to go!
This bird is walking towards some shade.
Because they are a relatively warm climate species
they suffer from the sun when on land.
they suffer from the sun when on land.
They can look a bit of a mess!
The heat is all too much for some!
This adult bird was still going underground
to its burrow.
to its burrow.
The best shade in town!
Where are all the Penguins?
OK! Got em!
This bird was braying, meaning that it is still
looking for a mate, rather late in the season.
looking for a mate, rather late in the season.
to splash in the surf to keep cool.
& sometimes jumping in to keep cool.
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