Ukrainian polar explorers show baby chinstrap penguins

Ukrainian polar explorer from the station Academician Vernadsky showed footage of chinstrap penguins and their babies. The video was published on the page of the National Antarctic Science Center.

In particular, they published a video where you can see penguins, also known as chinstraps or bearded ones. They are so called because of the black stripe that crosses the white chin. According to researchers, chinstraps are the most abundant species in Antarctica, with a total population of about 7.5 million pairs.

It is known that the mating season of these birds usually begins in October-November. They lay two eggs, more often one or three. The pair takes turns incubating the eggs and caring for the young.

In just one month, the penguin chicks hatched. At first they are covered with light gray down, which later darkens the head, wings and back.

“On our island of Galindez, chinstrap penguins usually visit, and even then only rarely. But in Buta, which is 20 km to the north, a small colony of them nests. And what is remarkable is that here all of 3 species of penguins of the genus Pygoscelis found at the same time nesting in our area: subantarctic, antarctic and Adélie. Sometimes Ukrainian biologists found such a neighborhood of three species on other islands, but rather as a exception. And so that all of them nest every year and the chicks hatch successfully – it’s only in Buta,” said the Ukrainians to the polar explorers.