Page 168 - 2003 - Atlantic Islands

absolutely brand new hatchlings up to babies that were almost as big as the parents.

All the chicks are still in downy feathers,

of course. We found the babies lying

around the nests in all sorts of interesting

attitudes - some of them sprawled on

their stomachs with their too-big feet

sticking out behind them, others of them

trying to squeeze themselves into their

original nests which they have actually

outgrown, still more of them leaning

heavily and clumsily against the parents,

begging for food we were sure. In the

middle of one of the Gentoo rookeries,

there were 2 pairs of king penguins

standing around. The local guide said they

were sitting on eggs as well. It made for

an interesting community and the kings had commanded the choice spot too – right

in the middle.

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