Bring in the Penguins!

Dude.

Yesterday left us at the Bone House, just prior to our quick zodiac ride out to Isla Yecapasela, where we were to spend about an hour wandering among the cute flocks of Magellanic and Gentoo penguins.

The zodiac in question. The children loved the penguins. The children might have loved the boat ride back just about as much. The winds had picked up, and the driver was happy to give them a bit of a ride.

There are many tour boats that drive by the island for snap shots, but only the Piro group is allowed to take tourists on the island. Piro are limited to something like twenty folks at a time. I believe they run two groups in the morning and two in the afternoon, so there are something like 80 people tramping over the island in an average day, twenty at a time.

Snapshot tourists. They were warmer and drier than we were, but I suspect they might have wondered if they should have sprung for the island tour after all.

Or thereabouts. The rookeries are "roped off" so that people cannot simply wander over to poke down a penguin nest hole. The group we were with were reasonably respectful; there weren't any yellow cards issued for attempts to smuggle a penguin home. They are seriously cute, though, and clearly used to people tramping through their nesting grounds. This crowd are the Magellanic.

There was also a rumor, our guide told us, that a King penguin had moved onto the island. Hope was rather excited by the idea of seeing such a sight, but since part of my job description is Crusher of Dreams, I said, "Unlikely! There is only one."

The penguins, of course, pay no never mind to the ropes. They wander at will and you do have to walk carefully, lest you accidentally disturb someone taking an afternoon snooze.

We were careful not to disturb our little wild friends. The babies really are darling.

And here we have the Gentoo. They are a little shyer, and so are happier to perch up on the hill where they are not disturbed. This breed of penguin are Arctic, spreading out to the outer Arctic islands from the South Pole.

And back to the Magellanic Penguin. These are not arctic penguins. The Magellanic are South American, and can be found as far north as Rio de Janerio. So, it's not like they have come to Ushsuia for a break from their Arctic chill - they are actually as far south as this breed is found.

With that, we headed back to the zodiac for a thrilling ride home. The penguins were one of the highlights of our trip to South America and definitely worth it.

Tomorrow: Where's Waldo?

Comments

[NP]

Hmm. Yes, very cute, but smaller than I expected. Can't really say how big I expected, but somehow, these are smaller. But very cute. And interesting; I enjoy your adventures so much!!

[Debbie Hanson]

They are beyond cute!!! BTW....love Hope's hat.