Penguins, Patagonia and pisco

Penguins, Patagonia and pisco
July 9, 2:43 PM

One of the many highlights on a journey to Chile is a visit to Pinguinera de Seno Otway, in southern Patagonia. Located about an hour northwest of Punta Arenas, these are the breeding grounds of a colony of Magellanic penguins, also called jackass penguins because of their braying calls associated with excitement. They are shy and much smaller than their more-famous brethren, the Emperor penguins.

Here, after an 18 mile drive down a gravel road, the photographer takes a short quarter mile hike to the penguin colony. The winds here can be fierce, coming off the sound at a biting 40 mph. Dress accordingly. Having your camera mounted on a tripod is highly recommended, as is a good lens in the 400-600mm range.

These birds mate with the same partner each year and return to the previous year's burrow for their nesting season. Only penguin couples return to this colony site. This species is on the "Near threatened" list, which is directly related to global warming. This global event has displaced and reduced the fish populations that the penguins are dependent upon for their survival.

Plan on arriving early in the morning, as the penguins head out to water for their daily feedings by 10 a.m. You may want to arrive before late March - contrary to several travel guide books - as the penguins leave the area for their winter feeding grounds along the coast of Brazil. If you plan your trip accordingly, getting there at the end of the tourist season leaves you with the possibility of a 10-14 day window of opportunity to find yourself alone with the little birds before their migration. On a recent trip to the colony, I had the distinct advantage of being the sole person among the penguins for more than two hours, allowing for an amazing experience without distractions.

Once you arrive at the nesting site, ropes along boardwalks help protect the birds from human intrusion by keeping visitors within designated areas. The photographer can use their braying calls to his/her advantage in helping locate their positions in the grassy vegetation.

A visit is not complete without a return to Punta Arenas for yet another highlight, Chile's national drink, the pisco.

Slideshow at source:
http://www.examiner.com/x-16256-Austin-Travel-Photography-Examiner~y2009m7d9-Penguins-Patagonia-and-pisco