January 17 - Los Pingüinos

Today started early with a taxi ride to the wharf terminal to get on the boat to Isla de Magallanes for a look at the Penguin colony there.   The same taxi driver that brought me fom the airpot picked me up.  Great guy. I assume the hiotel calls him specially, because there are tons of taxis in town. 

Here's the boat - the Melinka, built in Florida in 1968 and still in good shape.



First shot (ie. picture!) of penguins - Mom (or Dad) and a chick still in "fuzz."  These are Magallenes Penguins who occupy this island and a few other islands from November through February to mate & raise their young.




These chicks have almost finished their molt (poorly translated on the sign board where they called it "mounting.")

Good view of the burrows all the way up the hill.  I asked the guide why some would go so far up the hill to make a burrow, since they still go (waddle)  back and forth to the water to feed.  I mean that is a long way for somebody with such short legs!  I think his answer was because they aren't very smart birds.













Penguins as far as the eye can see.











Gulls and their chicks.  The gulls go after eggs and (I assume) young chicks.

Gathering at the water's edge.  I saw a sea lion and a seal, which I believe are both predators on these fellows, but the penguins didn't seem unduly concerned.  I did see a couple of times where bids in the water got all excited and skipped across the water en mass to get out.

At one time man was a big predator of these cute little fellows, gathering them for food and for use as bait in king crab traps (sounds rather ignominious to me). 

My contact says I have to include light house pictures whenever I see one, so here it is.  It's not operating, although I didn't see its replacement.  This whole island and another nearby are a national park, and protected.

I have tons more penguin pictures, but I've bored you enough.  Back on the Melinka for the 2 hour ride back.  Calm day with little wave motion affecting the boat.  I imagine this tub could really be one (a tub that is) in rough seas.

Back on land, walking back to town I spotted this nice looking fellow. I have no idea what he/she is except to guess some sort of Ibus.  Kelsey, where are you when we need you?  (Kelsey has forgotten more about birds than I'll ever know).

 Another stop on the way back was to drop into the municipal cemetery (the guide book recommended it). Very elaborate.  The mausoleums on the left form a wall on the street alongside the cemetery (it looks like a fortress from the street).    

A couple more shots below.

I did s bunch of other stuff today - shopping for hiking food and rearranging my gear into hiking / non-hiking piles.  

Had Guanaco for dinner, in a French restaurant.  The called it a stew, but it was more like sliced with a very rich gravy.  Tender and very good.  You were right, Lonny - red wine goes well with it.

Onto the bus tomorrow to head for Peurto Natales for two days before the big hike.  Don't know what Internet access will be like so don't hold your breath.  See ya later.