It is amazing how quickly time flies by during the closing stages of a seabird season and the colonies have certainly changed to reflect it! As summer draws to a close most of the species are getting ready to fledge their chicks, but one species gets there that bit sooner than all the rest; Adelie Penguins.
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| A colony full of chicks getting close to fledging |
The colonies were full of large chicks in January and towards the end of the month they were sporting some funky hairstyles as their chick down moulted away to make way for the first set of true feathers.
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| Some impressive chest hair to go with the thick beard there! |
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| That has to be a wig, surely!?! |
Once the chicks have fully moulted they look like real little penguins and start to venture out from the colony. They will follow adults around, begging for food, but will eventually have to leave the colonies to fend for themselves.
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| The chicks are quite different to the adults, although they are unmistakably still Adelies |
When the chicks do finally start to leave then they go en masse, hundreds of chicks disappearing off for their first swim and to fend for themselves, all within the space of just a couple of weeks.
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| Out of the colony and off to the ocean |
Luckily for us, although the Adelie colonies became empty from early February there were still plenty of other species around for us to see and study. The Chinstrap penguins are roughly one month later than the Adelies and so when the Adelie chicks were getting big and ready to leave the Chinstraps chicks were only just getting big enough to be left unguarded by adults.
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| The adults stay near the nest for a while, even when the chicks are too big to be brooded |
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| But the chicks are soon left to themselves, in the safety of the colony, so both parents can go and collect food for them |
Although, by late February the chinstraps are also getting very big and are on the verge of fledging themselves!
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| The Chinstrap chicks are quite varied in development but they are all getting there |
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| Hairy-backed penguin! |
Our third penguin species, the Gentoo, are closer to the Adelies in terms of timings but are still a fraction later. So, although many of the chicks haven't yet left the colonies, they are now roaming around and getting ready to go.
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| Gentoos almost ready to go |
The early part of the year hasn't just been a great time of development for the penguins. The flying birds have also made a lot of progress. The Snow Petrels have developed from little bundles of fluff...
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| Even at this early stage the chicks are left alone, in the safety of well hidden nests |
...to large chicks looking a little scraggly as their flight feathers come through.
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| So big it is almost too big for the gap between rocks! |
It won't be long until these guys leave as well but when they do they'll have to leave the comfort of their nests, hidden away under rocks and in crevices.
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| Spot the chick peeking out! |
The Blue-Eyed Shags are also on the verge of fledging. Although they are much more nervous at this stage so getting near them is something we avoid so as not to disturb them, however, it was only a month ago when they were still bundles of fluff being watched over by the adults themselves!
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| A shag colony is a very busy place |
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| Especially when there are three big chicks in a lot of the nests |
Not all species are currently or soon to be leaving though. The Southern Giant Petrels take a bit longer to fledge their chicks and they won't be ready to leave for the first time until April. For now the chicks are just starting to be left alone on the nest or with adults in close attendance.
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| A geep chick with adults nearby |
The chicks may be all fluff but you can still see the white morph ones even at this stage as the fluff, like the feathers, is white rather than grey!
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| The white morph, or 'spirit chick', really does stand out compared to its grey neighbours |
The seal activity increased through January but has since declined through February. Although they too will soon be leaving us for the season that doesn't mean they can't also show some excellent sights before they go.
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| A very sleepy blondie |
A summer on Signy really does fly-by but it is all incredible when working with such amazing wildlife. And the scenery isn't too bad either!
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| A cloudy day can't detract from the spectacle that is Signy Island! |
