Cape Royds Nest Check 2008-2009

Cape Royds is a small colony of about 2100 nests. It has declined in size since 2000, when there were 4000 nests. The decline was due to a large iceberg that grounded about 60 km (40 miles) north and caused McMurdo Sound to be completely ice covered. This made it difficult for Royds penguins, who had to walk much longer distances than they like. Therefore, many penguins left Royds to find nests in colonies closer to open water. Last season water was much closer, only a few kilometers away, penguins started to return to Cape Royds. This season, open water is again about 50 miles away and the penguins are having to walk further to get here. Many have decided not to, and there are fewer nests this year.

Cape Royds Nest Check | Bird Biography-Nest History

DATE TEMPERATURE WIND SPEED CONDITIONS NOTES
01-17-09 -2oC no data snowing  
01-16-09 -2oC no data cloudy  
01-15-09 -2oC 10 mph from N snowing  
01-14-09 -1oC no data cloudy  
   Click here to see weather data archive.  

Welcome to Nest Check 2008-2009. There are 6 Adelie Penguin families to follow as they raise their chicks at Cape Royds. You can follow along on a daily basis by logging in and checking the "picture of the day" at the right. If you miss a day, click on the nest number where you will see all the daily pictures and more about each of the nests. Click on any picture to see a larger version.

Create your own Cape Royds fieldbook. Keep track of the penguins nest status, just like the biologists do here on Ross Island! Record the date of your observations, weather conditions, status of the nest (chick or egg), and who is the tending adult (male or female). Create a chart or graph to compare the time each adult spends on it's nest. Click here for the Nesting Time Activitiy.

Jan 20, 2009. This is our last day of the 2008-09 Nest Check. We have pulled down our tents, packed our clothes and computers and moved to the large research station, McMurdo. Of the seven nests we were following, three were successful and raised 2 chicks each. All six chicks are big and fat and will soon molt into their adult plumage so they can forage for their own food. We will return once more this season to band chicks who will become part of our long term study. In the years to come we will look for these birds to see how this population is doing. I hope you have enjoyed following these Adelie Penguins as they raise their chicks. Join us again next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This season, Adelies were first sighted in the colony on Oct 21st, and the first egg was seen on Nov 5th. Nov 23rd, all of the breeding pairs have laid their eggs and the females have left the colony to forage for food.

Nov 30, We have lost nest #4. The male could no longer wait for the female to return, he had been without food or water for at least 2 weeks. Dec 1, the female returned to an empty nest, one day too late.

Dec 4. Two of our females returned today. This is a very happy event. Many other nests in the colony are being abandoned by the males as they can no longer go without food. The sea ice edge is still about 50 miles away.

Dec 10. Our first chick of the season was seen today. This is earlier than last year by several days. Now the parents will need to make the trip to the ice edge more often. Chicks need a constant supply of food. The nests in our study group are a few days behind in hatching.

Dec 20, A large crack has opened up about 2 miles from the colony making the trips for food much easier for the adults. This is a good thing for the remaining nests and chicks.

Jan 7. Another nest has been lost. Nest 2 #2543 had only one chick left and the Skuas have taken it. We are very sad to see this. The parents are both near the nest, we will take pictures as long as they linger there.

Nest 1 # 2358 female
   

Nest 2 # 2543 female
   

Nest 3 #0973 male
Nest 4 #2720 female
Nest 5 #1075 female  
Nest 6 #3537 female  
 Nest 7 # 2905 male  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is Jan 20, 2009, our last day

Jan 16, These chicks are the first ones in our colony to almost finish molting. You can see their adult feathers are growing which means they will be able to swim soon.

Nest #1 female, 2 chicks. These chicks are big and fat, the parents have fed and protected them well.

 
 Nest #2 Jan 7, this nest has failed. The adults have remained near the nest the rest of the season.
 

 Nest #3 Dec 13 The male could no longer wait for the female and has left the nest. The eggs have been taken by the Skuas and the rocks by the neighbors. The adults returned to the nest and were both there on Jan 20th
 
 
Nest #4 , Dec 1. The female came back today, but it is too late.
 

 Nest #5 male, 2 chicks. These chicks are large and starting to molt.
 
 

Nest #6 This nest failed, both chicks were taken by the Skuas. The adults remained near the nest for the rest of the season.
   
 

Nest #7 female, 2 chicks. Both these chicks are big and strong. They should start to molt soon.