Antarctic - Lester Reed's Photos

The Antarctic continent has been a foreboding place until recently. Over the last 25 years more and more tourists have taken cruses to the white continent. Although these increasing visitors have the potential for disrupting the fragile ecosystem in truth they, like me, only get to visit a very limited part the northern peninsula and the assorted islands. The rest is bound in ice and inaccessible except for research teams. These pictures were taken during the Antarctic summer (February 2008) and represent some of the limited wildlife and majestic scenery visitors encounter.

The photos were taken with a Canon Rebel xti and an EF 70-300mm or EFS 17-85mm lens.

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Lester Reed > Penguins are what people think of when they think of the Antarctic. Although there are penguins at many other places (17 species in places such as South Africa, Argentina, etc.) large populations of three predominate spices breed in the northern Antarctica and are the ones most visitors’ sees.

Lester Reed > The Adelie is among the most numerous with an estimated 2.5 million breeding pairs. It about 27 inches tall weighs about 10 ponds. Unfortunately, like most of the 17 species the Adelies’ population is rapidly declining due to climate change and other factors.

Lester Reed > Gentoo penguins are about the same size as both the Adelie and Chinstrap penguins. This is the smallest population of the Antarctic penguins numbering about 600,000 breeding pairs.

Lester Reed > The penguin in the forefront is a Chinstrap named that for obvious reason. They are the most numerous with an estimated 5 million breeding pairs.

Lester Reed > Chicks are covered with down during the early months of their lives. The down is replaced by feathers so they may go to sea with the adults prior to the long winter. The last down to be replaced is on the top of the head.

Lester Reed > Generally penguin nesting colonies are separate. This is a Gentoo colony. Although penguins try to nest in the same location each year, climate change is changing the locations available and the late arrivals are being forced farther south to find the needed cold environment.

Lester Reed > An Adelies’ nesting colony. Rocks define the nesting site.

Lester Reed > Both parents share the incubating, care and feeding of the young chicks. Feeding requires one of the parents to swim out and catch a meal (usually krill a small shrimp like crustacean) and then regurgitate the partially digested food into the chick’s mouth.

Lester Reed > The Antarctic fur seal is a majestic animal approximately seven feet long and 250 mounds. Nearly hunted to extinction by 1900 (Within four years of their discovery in 1819, over 320,000 Fur seal pelts were taken from the South Shetland Islands.) they have made a comeback because of conservation efforts. Today there is an estimated 4 million individuals.

Penguins are what people think of when they think of the Antarctic. Although there are penguins at many other places (17 species in places such as South Africa, Argentina, etc.) large populations of three predominate spices breed in the northern Antarctica and are the ones most visitors’ sees.