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46 images Created 2 Dec 2019

Gentoo Penguins

The Gentoo penguins are common on the Falkland Islands. They breed in colonies which are often far from the beach, and during the day lines of penguins go to and from the ocean. They use stones to build their nests and can be seen stealing stones from each other. They are monogamous breeders, and infidelity is punished by banishment from the colony. I was fortunate to spend time observing and photographing the Gentoo penguins in the Falkland Islands. Photo DSC_6420
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  • Gentoo penguins are distinguished by their orange-red bill and a white stripe across the top of their heads as if they are wearing headphones.  They are the third largest penguin species.  Only the Emperor and King penguins are bigger.  Photo DSC_2144
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  • Penguins walking in a group are called a waddle.  Here is a waddle of Gentoo penguins crossing a shallow pond.  Photo DSC_2167
    DSC_2167.jpg
  • Penguins don’t have teeth. They have backward-facing fleshy spines that line the inside of their mouths instead.  The spines help them guide their food down their throats.  DSC_4059
    DSC_4059.jpg
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  • This group of Gentoo penguins are emerging from the tussock grass on Sea Lion Island, one of the Falkland Islands.  They are coming from their nesting grounds, a colony, that is located a few hundred yards from the shoreline.  Photo DSC_3522
    DSC_3522.jpg
  • I have found Gentoo penguins to be the most enjoyable to watch swim.  They are the fastest swimmers of all the penguin species, and they seem to be the most acrobatic.  Photo DSC_5067
    DSC_5067.jpg
  • Gentoo penguins typically produce two eggs and often successfully raise two chicks.  Here a parent is inspecting the eggs.  Photo DSC_4066
    DSC_4066.jpg
  • These two Gentoos are coming in from a swim.  The way they hold their wings out makes me smile.  It is as if they are announcing their arrival.  Photo DSC_5080
    DSC_5080.jpg
  • These three Gentoos have just left the surf and are walking up to the beach.  The penguin in the background is about to land.  Photo DSC_5082
    DSC_5082.jpg
  • Here three Gentoos are arriving on shore simultaneously.  Two more individuals can be seen in the wave in the background.  Photo DSC_5081
    DSC_5081.jpg
  • This penguin is waiting for a surge of water to enter the ocean.  Notice the long tail feathers.  Gentoos have the longest tail feathers of all the penguin species.  Photo DSC_5087
    DSC_5087.jpg
  • A body surfing penguin coming to shore.  They look as if they enjoy playing in the surf.  Photo DSC_5100
    DSC_5100.jpg
  • More body surfing.  Why swim if you can let the waves do the work for you?  Photo DSC_5112
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  • Sometimes the Gentoos come out of the water and sit on a floating kelp bed.  The kelp is moved by the waves.  Sometimes the waves wash over the kelp and the penguins.  There is considerable commotion among the penguins during these times.  Photo DSC_5124
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  • The incoming wave has the potential to mix things up.  Photo DSC_5140
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  • The penguins seem to enjoy the chaos.  Photo DSC_5141
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  • When a big swell comes in, it mixes things up.  Can you see the tail feathers sticking up out of the water?  Photo DSC_5203
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  • Can you feel the force?  Photo DSC_5204
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  • Often the most efficient way to get onto the kelp bed is to jump out of the water.  Here is a Gentoo in midair on its way to a kelp landing.  Photo DSC_5191
    DSC_5191.jpg
  • The penguins seem unphased by the waves washing over the kelp and the penguins.  Photo DSC_5206
    DSC_5206.jpg
  • Three is a crowd.  Photo DSC_5954
    DSC_5954.jpg
  • A brief quiet moment before another noisy altercation.  Photo DSC_5969
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  • Penguin squabbles are noisy and often turn into a physical altercation.  Photo DSC_5967
    DSC_5967.jpg
  • They are at it again.  Photo DSC_5974
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  • A Gentoo meeting.  Photo DSC_5980
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  • Gentoos are the fastest swimmers of the penguins.  They can reach speeds of 22 mph which enables them to jump out of the water.  When they jump like this, it is called porpoising.  Photo DSC_6103
    DSC_6103.jpg
  • I could see black streaks in the water, and then they would burst into the air.  I was lucky to catch some of them in “flight.”  Photo DSC_6107
    DSC_6107.jpg
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  • When coming to shore, they often jump out of the deeper water and land on their feet in the shallows.  Photo DSC_6111
    DSC_6111.jpg
  • Picking up speed.  Photo DSC_6119
    DSC_6119.jpg
  • In a hurry to get to dry land.  Photo DSC_6152
    DSC_6152.jpg
  • Gentoo penguins marching back to their colony.
    DSC_6420.jpg
  • Who says penguins can’t fly?  Photo DSC_6389
    DSC_6389.jpg
  • Both Gentoo parents attending the nest.  The chick is begging for food.  Photo DSC_7554
    DSC_7554.jpg
  • A Gentoo parent with three chicks.  It is very unusual for Gentoo penguins to have three chicks.
    DSC_7566.jpg
  • It is very unusual to have three chicks in a single nest.  In this case, one of the chicks was probably adopted which is also unusual.  Photo DSC_7562
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  • When chicks feed, they often put their head into the throat of the parent.  The result is that very little food is wasted.  Photo DSC_7571
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  • This chick has just eaten.  You can see the line of saliva between its bill and that of the parent.  Photo DSC_7585
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  • These chicks are poking at the bill of the adult which induces feeding behavior.  Photo DSC_7597
    DSC_7597.jpg
  • This chick has just been fed.  Photo DSC_7609
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  • Three chicks huddled together next to the parent.  If a chick strays from the protection of its parents, it is likely to be preyed upon by birds that are constantly looking for food in the colony.  Photo DSC_7618
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  • This chick got a chuck of meat during the feeding.  I think it was too big to swallow.  Photo DSC_7635
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  • The chicks stay close to the parent tending the nest.
    DSC_7624.jpg
  • The parents stay busy checking up on the chicks and keeping them safe.
    DSC_7643.jpg
  • This chick is getting ready to touch the bill of the parent in hopes of stimulating feeding.  Photo DSC_7648
    DSC_7648.jpg
  • The begging of this chick was successful.  It is just finishing its meal.  Photo DSC_7666
    DSC_7666.jpg