December 29, 2021
It was a beautiful, warm day today. So much that in our morning landing at Culverville Island, I was dressed too warmly. Everyone was shedding articles of clothing. This afternoon, at Danco island, I removed my outer jacket. Danco Island has a rocky beach and the traditional human shoveled snow steps up to the ice. I decided to stay down by the rocks and observe the Gentoo penguins coming in and out of the water. Penguins are very curious and unafraid of human visitors. If you sit still, they will come right up to you.
March of the Penguins
I sat on the cleanest large rock I could find (penguin poop is everywhere) and just observed. It was a beautiful beach. The water was crystal clear. I was looking mostly in one direction. There had been no new action in some time, so I stood up to find perhaps a better vantage point. When I turned around, I looked right at four penguins intently staring at me, just an arms length away. They waddled up quietly so that I hadn’t noticed.
Encouraged that I was indeed at a good vantage point, I settled back down on my rock. Suddenly I sensed movement and then a raft of penguins swim out of the water and onto the rocky beach approximately 30ft from where I was sitting, all alone in my noble silence.
When they collectively turned in my direction I knew this would be special. OMG…a precious pack of penguins was coming my way. There had to be two dozen Gentoo’s marching toward me. I generally just take photos, but I had to start my video. I don’t think they noticed me at first. I remained still and kept my camera pointed at them, wondering how this was going to turn out.
Soon enough I gave them pause, not as a threat but, as an obstacle in their path and needed to decide how best to pass me. I’m assuming there was a lead penguin or two and a bunch of followers. The easiest way around me was to step in the water. Which eventually is the path they chose. So awesome to watch them march around me, intent of reaching their destination. They followed a Penguin highway trail up to the snowy mountain side and sunned themselves. I will never forget this experience. I was sharing a moment in their world, not mine.
