The morning started early.
The excursion meeting time was 7am.
Around 7:30 the group was loaded onto the bus, and we were off to the
speedboat that would take the group to Magdalena and Marta Island.
The first stop after about a 45 minute speedboat ride in the Strait of Magellan
was Magdalena Island. Penguins from
northern Chile, Brazil, and other parts of South America migrate to this island
for summer (November to March). They do
so for the longer days (it doesn’t get dark until 9pm in summer) and to
reproduce. It was amazing to see all of
the penguins on the island (approximately 120,000). Humans must walk a path, and penguins have
the right of way when crossing a human path.
The second stop was very brief anchoring off the island of
Marta because no one is allowed to go ashore.
It’s a home to seabirds and approximately 1000 sea lions. You know when you get to the island… it
smells. Even with the smell, it was truly
and amazing morning spent on two very unique ecosystems.
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| The "Yellow Submarine," as I guide called it, waits for us in the Strait of Magellan. 36 folks, the guide, and a crew of four fit in that yellow boat. |
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| These guys were heading for swim practice as the group disembarked the boat. |
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| It's a sea of penguins on this island. They return to their same nest each year. |
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| These young guys are venturing out. |
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| Mom, dad, and the two chicks are checking out the new visitors on the island. |
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| Over 120,000 penguins return here each year from other parts of South America to reproduce and molt. |
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| I videoed the penguins and they make a horrible sound (like a honking). |
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| The humans must keep to the path and not go beyond the ropes. To do so could cause a collapse of a nest. |
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| They feed those babies well. They molt and then begin to develop muscles from swimming and learning to fish. |
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| "He ain't heavy, he's my brother." |
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| This sea bird wanted to show off her chick, too. The birds peacefully coexist on the island. |
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| It's time to hone the swimming and fishing skills. |
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| They may be a little slow on land, but these birds are really, really fast in the water. |
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| This chick is molting and will be able to be independent by March. Penguins live to be 25 or 30 years old. They mate at 5 years old (a mature penguin). |
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| Penguins have the right of way. So, you better yield to them as they cross the human's pathway. |
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| I believe our speedboat can beat the penguins in a race. |
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| You can smell Marta Island before you reach it. The seabirds rule the top and the sea lions govern the beach. |
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| Sea lions and their new babies are relaxing on the beach in the sunshine. |
