All our cameras prepare, but if the dolphins is very difficult not jump you to get a good picture. It jumped. The boat continued its march toward the distant lighthouse.
"What's come to see?"We asked the tourist. "Penguins!"We replied in unison, my wife and I. It is a sin to travel without seeing their penguin Patagonia. Why do we attract? Probably by his gait and movements as human. Seeing them walking down the coast we imagine a meeting of elegant men dressed in tails, only lack cane and a top hat.
To see these animals were going to the right place, we approached the legendary Penguin Island.
In Argentina there are many colonies with hundreds of thousands of individuals each. The best known is Punta Tombo. But all these colonies harboring only one species, Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). We went to the only penguin in Argentina where two species coexist, special one. The life of these birds is not what everyone assumes, will spend eight months a year at sea swimming, every man for himself, foraging. Each spring, come to the beach and, somehow, among thousands of couples are recognized. Penguins, as most birds, keep your partner for life.
Landed. That place! The island is just stone and sand, but life is full of. The penguins were looking for the other side of the island, so we set off to cross.
On the beach resting lions, elephant seals and cormorants nesting few meters, gulls and skuas. All these are a threat to the penguins, either because they compete with them for food or because they attack their eggs and chicks.
Our friends lay two eggs, breaking of the three-day difference. One parent stays with the newborn while the other goes to sea to fish and so take turns.
"There!"Cried the European tourist and We saw a lot of penguins coming and going to sea. There was so much traffic that seemed to Florida Street in Buenos Aires at nine o'clock.
They are very special: rockhopper, red eyes, pink paw and, instead of walking, jumping from rock to rock, hence its English name “Rock Hopper” stones jumper. We took literally hundreds of photos
Despite the enthusiasm of the tourists I must say that I was disappointed a little, Magellanic penguins were the same in many other places. I wanted to see the other ...
"A little farther." Said the guide I guessing my thoughts. Advances hard.
Suddenly, where the ground down again towards the sea the vi. Dozens and dozens of attractive Rockhopper penguins. We were the only colony in Patagonia.
With my wife, we sat down to watch. They are very special: rockhopper, red eyes, pink paw and, instead of walking, jumping from rock to rock, hence its English name “Rock Hopper” stones jumper. We took literally hundreds of photos. Everyone seems very sure of themselves going back and forth, But not everything is easy in life of penguins. While this colony is growing why we say they are in trouble?
In the Falkland Islands had, until 1982, over six million four species of penguins, including the Magellanic and Rockhopper. That year was the war between Argentina and Britain. After their victory the British established a large military base in these forgotten islands and, to resolve it, gave great fishing permits. The huge ship was carrying food and food began escasearle penguin couples who fed her two cubs. Biologists determined that half of the couples could only raise one of his two young, and half ... none! The penguin population declined sharply in Falklands, up to that nest there today just over a million penguins. A decrease of more than 80%.
Current studies determined a change in the behavior of these birds. As he fell violently amount of penguins in the Falklands, on nearby islands and the continent's population grew slowly. ¿Porqué? Many couples sought new colonies. Some, certainly, swelled the population of Penguin Island.
My wife and I were watching the penguin colony while going in and out of the sea passing by our, every so any complaint launched its cry like a braying. All seemed at peace but we knew that Rockhopper are fighting for their livelihoods.
The wind was rising and the sea began to curl. The guide said it was time to return. I turned around to take one last picture of the lighthouse and penguins around. Embark. The boat rocked hard but did not realize. I've been thinking I had to find the travel diary of Charles Darwin What were his comments when he passed through this island, back in 1834? What did this rookery? And who wrote the rest of the animals that inhabit the estuary of the Deseado? Well ... we leave for another note this blog.
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Gerardo Bartolomé traveler and writer is. To learn more about him and his work go to www.GerardoBartolome.com
