Summit County Citizens Voice

Some of our favorite feathered friends …

Bathing beauties. Gentoo penguins on Deception Island.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Some might call it a shameless quest for page views but I’m going to call it fine art photography, even though there’s no doubt that penguin pictures to help drive web traffic. There’s no denying — they are cute little critters, and despite being so cuddly and loveable, they manage to survive and even thrive in an incredibly harsh environment. Their environment is, of course, one of the most threatened by climate change, as temperatures across parts of Antarctica are warming at double the rate of the global average.

During a February visit a couple of years ago, it was moulting time for many species, including this gentoo at Brown Bluff.

A gentoo at Brown Bluff, Antarctica.

Streeeeetch! Adelie Penguin on Paulet Island.

Adelie penguin with seals on Paulet Island.

A posing Adelie penguin on Paulet Island.

A fluffy chinstrap penguin on Deception Island seems to be waiting for the last few feathers to fall out.

Chinstrap penguins on Deception Island discussing the, uh ... weather?

Emergence.

Bob Berwyn meets, and photographs, a gentoo. PHOTO BY LEIGH WADDEN.

Filed under: Environment, Morning photo, photography, Summit County news, wildlife Tagged: | Adelie penguins, Antarctica, chinstrap penguins, Deception Island, gentoo penguins, Paulet Island, penguins, photography