ua en ru

Unique family: Polar researchers show penguins with rare number of chicks

Unique family: Polar researchers show penguins with rare number of chicks Three penguin chicks in one nest is a rare event (photo: facebook.com/@AntarcticCenter, Ivanna Koturbash)

On Galindez Island, where the Ukrainian Antarctic Akademik Vernadsky station is located, the hatching season for penguin chicks continues. Recently, scientists observing the birds noticed a unique number of penguin chicks in a single nest, the press service of the National Antarctic Scientific Center reports.

How many chicks do polar researchers see in nest?

According to scientists, the penguin family spotted near the Antarctic station is unique. "It has three chicks growing up at the same time," the polar researchers reported.

As noted by the scientific center, this unusual number of offspring was born to a pair of subantarctic penguins living on the island. The chicks have already shed their gray down and developed their "adult" coloring, with black backs and white bellies.

However, unlike adult subantarctic penguins, the chicks’ white "eyebrows" are still rather indistinct.

Унікальна родина: полярники показали пінгвінів з рідкісною кількістю пташенят

Polar researchers saw an unusual number of penguin chicks in one bird family (photo: facebook.com/@AntarcticCenter, Ivanna Koturbash)

Why is this number of chicks rare?

According to polar researchers, subantarctic penguins, which nest around the scientific station, typically lay two eggs per family. Although sometimes there may be three eggs in a clutch, all chicks usually have very low chances of survival.

"The reason is simple - it's difficult for the parents to feed three chicks," the scientists explained. A pair of penguins take turns hunting to ensure the chicks remain safe. The chicks are fed partially digested krill from the parents' beaks.

However, the observed pair of penguins managed to raise three chicks despite the challenges - a success indicated by the chicks’ age. According to polar researchers, the penguin chicks in this unique family are about three weeks old.

Унікальна родина: полярники показали пінгвінів з рідкісною кількістю пташенят

Three chicks in a subantarctic penguin family is a rare event (photo: facebook.com/@AntarcticCenter, Ivanna Koturbash)

Furthermore, Svitozar Davydenko, a biologist from the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, noted that this "large family" is the only one on Galindez Island. Published photos of the rare bird family were taken by Ivanna Koturbash.

Ukrainian scientists also counted the number of adult subantarctic penguins and their chicks: currently, about 2,000 subantarctic penguin chicks live on Galindez Island. Meanwhile, the adult penguin population totals around 4,000.

Унікальна родина: полярники показали пінгвінів з рідкісною кількістю пташенят

A subantarctic penguin family with three chicks (photo: facebook.com/@AntarcticCenter, Ivanna Koturbash)

The scientific center emphasized that observing these birds is essential for understanding climate change. In particular, the migration of subantarctic penguins over the past 20 years is evidence of rising air temperatures in Antarctica.

Унікальна родина: полярники показали пінгвінів з рідкісною кількістю пташенят

Post by the National Antarctic Scientific Center (screenshot: facebook.com/@AntarcticCenter)