Adelie Penguin

The sea ice off a penguin rookery is a busy place. There are penguins returning to feed their young and penguins going to sea to hunt for food. The problem with the whole scene are the Leopard Seals that hunt the penguins just off shore. To stay away from the seals the penguins, wherever possible, ride the ice flows with the wind and currents rather than getting in the water.

Being not only cautious Adele's are curious. When people near the group the birds jump clumsily to their feet and waddle forward cautiously. The first penguin steps a little and stops. Then a bird from the rear moves forward. They stop and the process begins again until they satisfy themselves that people aren't a threat. Once satisfied they turn around and leave.

Most penguins are white on the chest and abdomen including the Adelie Penguins. Penguins are very social and found in groups both on land and at sea. The most common penguins in Antarctica are the Adelie Penguins. The Adelies are the ones that look like their wearing tuxedos. They always dress as if going to a formal affair. These penguins have a stiff tail with long tail feathers that drags the ground when they walk. They have a white ring around the eye. Feathers cover most of the short beak.

They often move on the land by sledding down hills on their belly traveling up to 15 miles an hour sliding. Like all penguins they are awkward on land but graceful in the water.

Definite sounds and calls help them keep track of each other both on land and at sea.

They breed communally in large groups once a year. Adele penguins cross the sea ice to their traditional Antarctic breeding grounds in mid October. Individual partnerships reform on last years nesting site. Courtship lasts about two weeks. Their chicks grow the fastest of all penguins.

The Adelie Penguins build their nests of pebble. They have to defend their nests from other penguins who try to steal pebbles, stones, and other nest building materials. Usually after breeding the female Adele Penguin lays two eggs. After the female lays the eggs the incubation period lasts about 42 days. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs.

Along with the Emperor and Chinstrap Penguin the Adelie Penguin lives entirely in the Antarctic Region.

They feed exclusively at sea. The Adelie penguin as with other penguins they have a mouth and tongue lined with fleshy, backward pointing spines that help hold slippery prey. All

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