It has finally happened….. EMPEROR PENGUINS!
October 27, 2012
Saturday
9,075 views on Hailing Frozen Thoughts!
Thank you so much for all your support everyone! Let’s keep it up!
Weather October 27, 2012
Mean Temperature: 2.6°F
Wind: 8 knots
After searching for a several hours yesterday, we finally turned around and came back to station after unsuccessfully finding a non-reproductive female (NRF). I did manage to build the first model of the season however! Now I truly can celebrate the beginning of the season. The models are easier to create because the ropes are exactly where I want them ideally since the animal is not moving, and because I now have created a procedure to follow in terms of creating my models.
Today, we’re going out at 11:30, hoping to catch the seals later in the afternoon. We’ve seen much more activity from the seals on our way back from the ice into town. Perhaps we’ll have better luck on this schedule. Plus, big bonus, we can eat lunch on station before going out! More food = more warmth = happy Mee-ya.
October 28, 2012
Sunday
We came back empty handed yet again yesterday, but we’ll just keep on trying until we get the animals we need tagged.
Weather October 28, 2012
Mean Temperature: 2.8°F
Winds: 7 knots
October 29, 2012
Monday
Yesterday was the most fantastic day! The sun was out, it was the first clear day we’ve been out on the ice since we arrived, the wind was nearly nonexistent (a miracle in and of itself), and it was warm! We spent an entire day scouting out seals. We went to Turk’s Head, which is this gorgeous place right next to the Erebus Glacier Tongue. We scoped it out and there appear to be a couple perspective adult females that are not pregnant. Our plan is to go straight to Turk’s Head today in an attempt to tag one of those females.
Now driving all over McMurdo Sound on skidoo always makes me happy, but the special reason why yesterday was fantastic? EMPEROR PENGUINS! It has finally happened all, I have seen Emperor Penguins! Only a few feet away from me, sliding, flapping, calling, and waddling around. I cannot even describe the excitement that courses through my body recalling the event even now. We’re all antsy to get our first non-reproductive female tagged. We’re going out today after lunch, hopefully we have better luck today.
Pictures of the penguins and Turk’s Head to come!
Weather today:
Temperature: 1.4°F
Wind Chill: -12.5°F
Skies: Partly Cloudy
Visibility (miles): Unrestricted
Winds: NW @ 7 knots
October 31st, 2012 at 4:10 PM
OMG The penguins. it had to be even better then seeing whales in the San Juan Islands.
Lucky lucky you. A memory for a lifetime.
The Native Americans would say penguins are part of your totem.
It is also so exciting to see so many hits on your blog.
We love you
Aunt Clare