BBC Wildlife - UK (2019-12)

LEFTEmperoreggshatchin

themidstofwinter,andthe

processtakesseveralhours.

A fatherwillbeextremely

attentiveashischick

emerges,usinghisbeakto

gentlylifthisbroodpouch

andremoveshardsofshell.

“Itamazesmehowanalmost

nakedchickcanliveinsuch

a placeafterhatching,”says

Stefan.“It’sstill-30°C.”

RIGHTThechickssoon

outgrowthebroodpouch,

perchinginsteadona parent’s

feet.Sometimes,twoadults

withchicksstandclosewhile

theyoungstersinteract.

Thebehaviour,whichStefan

describesas‘playdates’,is

notfullyunderstood.Stefan’s

theoryis thattheadultsare

seeking‘godparents’ascover

whenbothparentsareatsea.

BELOWFewbirdsotherthanpenguinscan

endurelifeinAntarctica,eveninsummer.

Here,twoAntarcticskuas– whichreturn

totheregioninspring– squabbleover

thecarcassofanemperorchickfromthe

previousyear,preservedintheiceand

exposedduringthethaw.

48 BBC Wildlife December 2019

PHOTO STORY EMPEROR PENGUINS