10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

They breed in colonies scattered around the Antarctic continent (the number ranges from 60 to 70, and as Kooyman points out, the colonies can drastically change in size from year to year) on the ice (and one of the things I learned from this book is how many different kinds of ice there is in the Antarctic) in the darkest months of winter.

Penguins 171

Penguins Seals Leopards Research 171

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Penguins are flightless, but some species locomote over long distances on antarctic ice to travel between breeding grounds and the sea. They have special adaptations to stay warm and to keep their eggs and chicks warm.

Penguins 202

Penguins Seals Peru Science 202

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2013

The early threats of guano harvesting and egg collecting have been replaced by the more ominous threats of oil pollution and overfishing of their favorite food source – pilchards. On the mainland they face predation from domestic cats, dogs, genets, mongoose and Cape Gulls which steal their chicks and eggs.

Penguins 232

Penguins South Africa Africa Sharks 232

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2012

They are not bound to wetlands the entire year and large groups of birds will disperse to dry grassland and savanna outside of the breeding season. This is worrying because paired birds generally only lay one egg and the breeding cycle can be very irregular.

Botswana 163

Botswana South Africa Africa Ethiopia 163