The Nesting Habits of Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis Adeliæ)

Abstract

WHEN they arrive at the southern rookeries in the early spring, the penguins appear to be quite unattached, and pairing takes place during the ensuing week or two. As they spend the winter on the floating pack ice, far out to the northward, they have a journey of some hundreds of miles to get to their rookeries, and are therefore much fatigued on arrival. Consequently, many are seen to spend their first day or so in resting, either on the sea ice, or on the solid ground on which the rookery is formed.