Penguins!

By far my favorite thing that we did in Punta Arenas was visit Isla Magdalena to see the breeding colony of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). These adorable flightless birds migrate every year to the tropics on the west and east sides of South America, then return to Patagonia to breed. The males arrive first to make burrows, and the females arrive a bit later. A clutch of exactly two eggs is laid in October, and the chicks hatch 40 days later. During our visit (in March), the juveniles had just molted and left the island. The adults were completing their own molt and getting ready to return north for the winter. 

This post will contain a lot of penguin pictures. I just have to share them!

This is what the landscape looks like at Isla Magdalena - a lighthouse, grass, and penguins.

Hi, little guy!

Some penguins headed to the beach

We were told not to touch the penguins, to give them plenty of space, and to let them cross the path without interference. This little guy knew exactly how much power he had. That smug little face liked stopping the one-way traffic of humans. 

Because the penguins were molting, feathers were all over the island!

Isla Magdalena was LOUD. At any given time, roughly 10% of the penguins were making this exact posture and emitting a sound like a duck call. I asked the guide what the scream meant, and he had a very good answer. "Well, you have to look at what is happening," he told me, "Is the penguin hungry? Is he scared? Is he happy? Is he bored? Then the penguin makes that sound."

Let's end on a sweet note. Magellanic penguins form monogamous pairs, and this couple was grooming each other!