From mikeb@falklands.net Thu Dec 12 22:04:22 2002
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 12:32:55 -0800
From: Mike Bingham <mikeb@falklands.net>
To: frosch@derfrosch.de
Cc: Constanze.Xxxxxxx@epost.de
Subject: Greetings from Froschi

Dear Thorsten

I attach the photos of your penguin and its burrow, that you have been
waiting for.

The penguin colonies have suffered from a lot of heavy rain during November,
which has caused some penguins to abandon their nests altogether. Magellanic
penguins only lay two eggs, and if they loose them both, they abandon
breeding until the following year. Magellanic penguins can live to over 20
years of age, so a few bad seasons during their life would be usual.

The rain has totally filled these burrows, and obviously the adults were
forced to abandon these nests. Whilst penguins have eggs it is so important
that the burrows do not become flooded, since once the eggs become chilled
they will no longer hatch. Chicks at least are able to move to a higher part
of the burrow to avoid any standing water, but eggs cannot.

Burrows in general offer good protection for penguins. They protect the
penguin from short bursts of rain, and from strong winds and predators.
Magellanic penguins have a very sharp and powerful beak, with a hook at the
tip which can tear through human skin with ease. When the penguin is wedged
in its burrow facing outwards, it is impossible for predators such as cats
and foxes to pinch the eggs, because they would suffer serious wounds in the
attempt.

So burrows do offer good protection under most circumstances, but they are
at risk from long periods of heavy rain that cause the water to fill the
burrow. Fortunately your penguin continues to incubate both eggs, and the
weather has become dry and sunny over the last few days, so hopefully the
danger has now passed.

Actually most species of penguins do not make burrows, but that is because
they live in Antarctica or on islands which do not have mammal predators
such as foxes and cats, that would steal eggs from surface nests. Magellanic
penguins live on the South American continent, and have evolved in the
presence of such predators.

Whilst incubating the eggs, the adults swap over in the nest every 2 to 4
days, allowing each to spend some time at sea looking for food. It is
important to keep in good condition now, because once the chicks hatch the
parents will have to work hard to keep the chicks fed.

I will write to you again when the chicks have hatched.

Best wishes

Mike






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