Photographer is Roger Tory Peterson
Photo used with permission by Kevin Welch
Rockhopper penguins
Scientific name: Eudypets
chrysocome
Total length: 21.7 inches
Weight: 5.5 pounds
Markings are a brown headband that wvtends
from behind the eyes into long, banner like gold-and-black
feathers.
Rockhopper penguins live on differnet islands surrounding
th Antarctica. They inhabit steep slopes. They are able to climb
high cliffs with their sharp claws. But they don't like to nest
on the steep areas, whanever they can they will nest on level
ground.
Males com from the sea onto land in mid-October. They
first find their okd nesting sited from the previous year.
Battles often developp during this time bewteen the old penguins
and the younger penguins. Rockhopper penguins are very
aggressive, particularly the males. The penguins are very tough
around humans who try to drive them away from their nesting
areas. They spring up in the air, peck at the intruder's arm, and
don't stop until he or she has left.
When the female penguins return from the sea, they go find
the mate that they had the previous year. Rockhopper penguins and
the whole Eudypetes penguins are very faithful to their mates and
their nesting areas. They both work together to build their nest,
the female uses her body to form a nesting cabity in the ground;
the males looks for nesting materials like tussock grass, leaves,
sticks, bones, or pebbles. The female will lay two eggs and will
take the first watch in warming the egg. In Decenber, the chicks
are to hatch and this is the time the male will come back from
feeding. In Janurary, the chicks will be more self-reliant. They
will leave the nest and gather together will other chicks in
creches and by Feburary, they will be ready to go to sea will the
older penguins.
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