By Cata, Marine mammal biologist
Yesterday, Friday 28th we left Parry Harbor and started sailing towards our next destination, Cook Harbor. On the way there our goal was to try to disembark in Colnett Bay to check up on a king penguin colony. In the past this colony was big and prosperous, but the number of penguins decreased notably due to hunting. In the last two years the same couples have come back and are occupying the beach again. Last April, three chicks were observed and it was important to know if they had survived the winter without the adults.
Disembarking was a very difficult matter and only two of us could do it. Once we finally made it onto the beach, we counted and photographed the small colony. We also collected some samples of feathers. In total, there were twelve penguins, including nine adults and three molting chicks; plus three of the adults were incubating eggs! After that we walked along the beach searching for dead marine mammals and birds without any luck. Around two in the afternoon we went back to the boat completely wet because of the waves at the shore. Just before starting to sail again a shy minke whale swam close to the vessel letting us know we were not alone in this paradise.
The sailing towards Cook Harbor was accompanied by flocks of magellanic and rockhopper penguins. When we arrived at our destination, part of the group went to survey the area and the rest of us stayed at the boat. Lucrecia and I baked some homemade bread for breakfast the next morning, as it will be a long day and we will need lots of energy.
After having a delicious dinner we went to bed happy with our accomplishments for the day. Now we just hope for nice weather the next morning.
