Penguin Watch Talk

Plump Chinstraps

  • nthrockmorton by nthrockmorton

    "Why are those chinstraps round?" [Annika]
    Do these chinstraps look bigger than usual? They look really round and plump!

    Posted

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

    Hi Annika,

    Well spotted! Yes, they are fed/fattened to be able to stay on the land and moult the old feathers. They can't go to forage for food in the meantime. That's why they appear so round and big:)

    Have you noticed the white moults all around? They're feathers, not snow:)

    Zuzi

    Posted

  • AvastMH by AvastMH moderator

    It makes me think of when my mum told me off for scratching. It must be so itchy getting rid of all those old feathers. They all look like they are trying to snooze to avoid the itch. And every hillside ridge in the distance has huge numbers of equally itchy penguins on it. That's a LOT of feathers. 😃

    Posted

  • nthrockmorton by nthrockmorton

    "I do sometimes feel itchy!" [Annika] Thanks for confirming our hunch. We thought they looked bigger than usual!

    Posted