Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island

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Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4449] (13290)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2001-01-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon 24-70 mm f 2,8 L-USM, Fuji Provia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Penguins (Spheniscidae) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-03-23 11:09
Viewed: 897
Points: 31
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I was very, very fortunate to be able to take this photograph for two reasons: first- very few visitors are allowed to visit Macquarie - about 200/yr. Second - it is difficult to get to - and this was the only landing of the scheduled 3 visits we could make because of atrocious weather conditions - for one day we had battled against the Southern Ocean with six engines running (Ice-breaker) and only maintained our position.

The Royal penguins are found only on the rocky Macquarie Island in the Pacific. They share this island with the king, gentoo and rockhopper penguins. The Royal penguins breed in small colonies scattered over the island. It is estimated there are about 850, 000 breeding pairs – they are endemic to Macquarie ie this is the only place these penguins are found. They feed on krill, fish and small amounts of squid.

Royals along with the Macaroni penguins are the largest of the crested penguins. Both have yellowish-orange and black crests extending from the side to the tops of the head. The Royals are slightly larger and have white feathers on the cheeks and under their chins on the throat. Some scientists consider the Royals to be a sub-species of the Macaroni penguins. Royals stand 70 cm tall and weigh about 4 to 5.5 kg. The female is often smaller than the male.

Macquarie Island is a subantarctic island and a part of the state of Tasmania. The island is located at 54o 30' S, 158o 57' E, approximately halfway between Antarctica and Australia, lying 1,466 km SSE of Tasmania and 1,294 km N of the Antarctic continent. The island lies just to the north of an oceanic boundary, the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone or Antarctic Convergence, where cold polar water to the south meets the warmer subantarctic water to the north. This results in the seas being very rich in food.

The Island is 34 km long and up to 5 km wide. It consists of a long, north-south trending plateau, 200-350m above sea level, surrounded on all sides by steep slopes or cliffs. The highest point is Mt Hamilton at 410 m, and there are only two peaks over 400 m.

Macquarie Island is on the Macquarie Ridge at the junction of the Pacific and Australian (or Indo-Australian) plates. Major earthquakes (6.2 or greater on the Richter scale) and their aftershocks occur approximately once a year. Severe earthquakes (7.2 or greater on the Richter scale) occur once a decade. As a result landslips are common on steep coastal slopes. Macquarie Island is unique in its origin in that it is formed purely of deep oceanic crust that emerged above the surface of the ocean approximately 600 000 - 700 000 years ago. Macquarie Island's bedrock is young, formed roughly 11million years ago (mid Miocene). The island's lithology is comprised of pillow basalts with some associated volcanic sediments and basalt flows.


This is a scanned slide - no cropping, just prepared for uploading to this site.
jaycee, ralfsworld, uleko, Argus, Adanac, claudine, delic, Dan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Dan: Danube DeltaJamesp 1 04-19 14:44
To Evelynn: Same timeJamesp 3 03-25 11:57
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2007-03-23 11:16]

Hi James,

You were fortunate indeed!!! This shows the penguins in wonderful detail. The colors are wonderful and that water sure does look cold.

TFS

Jane

I really like this guys, James.
I feel freedom seeing this beautiful birds in their natural environment. Interesting pose and beautiful colours. I like this cool guy (bird #2 in the left corner)
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2297 W: 163 N: 6694] (21146)
  • [2007-03-23 11:33]

Hello James,
This must have been a trip of a lifetime for you! Fantastic capture of these beautiful penguins in a very nice composition. Great depth of focus and lovely colours. It looks as if they are walking on water!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

This is once again a rare but extremely attractive picture of these crested Penguins you were able to take at an inaccessible location on the earth.
The birds are beautiful and I am much amused by the one turning its head to gaze at you.
Wonderful image and thanks for sharing it.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2007-03-23 12:06]

Hello James,
You were indeed fortunate to be able to take such a fine and unique shot as this. The scanning is successful and this shot is a sharp and well composed presentation of the Royal Penguin, an attractive species.
Nice to see!
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

great subjet and good note !!
thank you to share
aleks

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-03-23 23:28]

Hello James

A wonderful squadron of penguins.I love the composition.Excellent deep colour saturation.The focus is spot on and the details are sharp.I am familiar with Macquarie Island,I have talked to a HAM radio expedition there(Jan 2,2000) ,it is a rare one to talk to in the short wave radio hobby.With a lot of hoops to jump through for guys to set up a station and operate there.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2007-03-24 3:20]

Hi James,
Superb shot and a sort of rare one considering that the place is not allowed for visitors as well as inaccesible. Very colourful with sharp details. I love the way they walk in the flowing water and the stare the second one gives you. Wonderfully composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

bonjour james
on dirait qu'ils font une coregraphie pour vous!
jolies couleurs et bel instant.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 1 N: 3939] (13258)
  • [2007-03-24 5:02]

Hello James,
We are lucky too, because you brought this great composition back to share with us. Very nice camera work to display this lovely scene expertly.
Rick

"All together now! one and two and one and two" It looks like an exercise class! What a unique shot and opportunity. I love the one that is looking right at you. I am a bit confused. Are all 7 of these lovelies coming out of the water at the exact same moment? Nice work

Evelynn : )

Great moment and a rare opportunity to photograph these super cool royals. Dont you hate that when someone says great picture and then they only give you half a smiley, it makes you think theres something wrong with the picture, believe when I say theres nothing wrong with your image. :)

Hello James,
Those guys seem to really enjoy themselves :) I like those poses you capture with as usual great details, exposure, colors, and POV. Well done with interesting notes. Thanks,
Claudine

Hello James,
The action is well captured!
They have a style that is awesome, and the wonderful headgear adds to my experience...
Well composed presentation, fine details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-03-29 13:53]

Hello James,
I'm seeing this one with some delay. One of your coolest shots for sure. Love the colors and the way they pose, esp. the one that's looking at the camera. Very well done. Regards.
Hakan

  • Great 
  • Dan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 112 W: 0 N: 343] (1685)
  • [2007-04-19 5:59]
  • [+]

Hi James,
Great photo, excellent colors, interesting moment of penguins life. You are a lacky man having the oportunity to do photos all around the world. Did you see Danube Delta?
It was a pleasure for me to travel around the world through your photos. (I'm too an admirer of David Attenborough).
TFS, Dan

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