One of the successfully raised gentoo chicks from last season moulting into its adult feathers.
Many gentoo colonies on the
north coast of South Georgia have been abandoned early in the breeding
season. The birds came in to nest and laid but then appear to have
left. The eggs remain on the abandoned nest unguarded. The usual
hilltop colonies near Husvik were all empty, and reports from other
colonies show a similar pattern. However other colonies seem to have
managed better. For those birds that remain incubating, the chicks are
now beginning to hatch.
The colony collapses may be associated with a lack of food close to
shore. Gentoos go to sea to feed each day, so cannot get far out to sea
before returning to roost or returning to the nest. The lack of food may
be associated with the current El Niño event.
source
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