Penguin Watch Talk

Toboggan

  • nthrockmorton by nthrockmorton

    "Are those toboggan tracks from the penguins sliding on their bellies?" From Annika (3yr)

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  • AvastMH by AvastMH moderator

    I am sorry that we took so long to answer your question Annika.

    Yes, indeed they are toboggan tracks, Annika. Well spotted, and it makes an interesting question to answer 😃

    There are some footprints, and some slide tracks all mixed together. Sometimes sliding is faster than walking. Sometimes, as the snow melts, their old footsteps melt quickly and make holes which they can then fall into when walking. When those holes appear it is easier for them to slide across the rough snow than try to walk in it. Here are some more penguin tracks: http://talk.penguinwatch.org/#/subjects/APZ0002h0i

    The sea ice in the background is very impressive. I wonder how the penguins are getting into the water to fish? The temperature on this beautiful spring day is 16 degrees centigrade, so the ice will melt quickly. Here is a picture with the ice nearly all gone but there is one iceberg, out to sea, that looks like a large white fluffy duck: http://talk.penguinwatch.org/#/subjects/APZ0002zdn

    The building in the picture is the Boat Shed at a place called Port Lockroy, where visitors can get their postcards sent home by 'Penguin Post'. If you would like to see a beautiful panorama of this place, showing plenty of Gentoo penguins, you could ask a parent to consider looking at this website: http://www.antarctic.eu/photos-videos-panoramas/antarctic-panoramas/antarctic-peninsula/port-lockroy.html

    I hope you are enjoying marking the penguins, Annika. Thank you for helping science to protect them 😃
    Joan

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  • nthrockmorton by nthrockmorton

    "Thanks Joan!" (says Annika, transcribed by her dad).

    We really appreciate the great explanations and extra pictures--she sits riveted as we read them to her. Getting to interact directly with scientists and experts has really made this come alive for her, and she has learned so much. She sometimes even says, "I'm a penguinologist" when she meets people. 😃

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  • yshish by yshish moderator, translator in response to nthrockmorton's comment.

    Oh, that is great! She seems to be a real penguinologist to me! 😃

    Saying hello to Annika!

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  • AvastMH by AvastMH moderator

    I completely agree with yshish. It is wonderful to know that you are so enthusiastic for the penguins and scientists, Annika (our latest penguinologist!). A young and eager mind is just what science needs. Carry on your good work! And please say 'thank you ' to your parents for us 😃

    Joan

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  • AvastMH by AvastMH moderator

    I just caught another post thread by NickyPeng with a short video (very short) of a penguin diving shallowly with a camera on its back:

    http://talk.penguinwatch.org/#/boards/BPZ0000003/discussions/DPZ00007jc?page=1&comment_id=54dc6b7e832cec66f70001be

    Young penguinologists might be interested 😃

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  • nthrockmorton by nthrockmorton

    Great video! She definitely is interested. "I like the jellyfish that the penguin ate, because I like jellyfish too" (Annika)
    After looking at the cool panarama pictures of Port Lockroy you shared earlier in the thread, we found this video which has a person giving a tour of the old Post Office.

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  • AvastMH by AvastMH moderator

    Just caught up with your post nthrockmorton. Thanks for posting that video clip. I love seeing more of life down at Port Lockroy. I can't imagine what immense fun it must be to stay there - though hard work too. They are currently advertising for the Post Office job for 2015/6. I think they may not be short of applications 😉. Perhaps Annika might be interested - in a year or two 😃

    I especially liked the information about weather gathering data (my first zooniverse love is the OldWeather project).

    Best wishes, Joan (AvastMeHearties)

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  • AvastMH by AvastMH moderator

    Hi Annika and Dad,
    I spend a lot of time on OldWeather Zooniverse (which probably explains why I notice sea ice a lot!). Your story on DailyZoo really captured the forum there, so I thought you'd like to see how enchanted they were with your dailyzoo article (I enjoyed it immensely). Here's the thread - I think you should be able to access it - look through until you get to Feb 24th http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=4013.msg104146#msg104146

    Best wishes, Joan

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